A bomb threat targeting the brother of Pope Leo XIV has prompted a police investigation in Illinois, raising concerns about escalating tensions between the pontiff and former President Donald Trump.
On Wednesday, the New Lenox Police Department responded to a reported bomb threat directed at a residence on Sojourn Road, which authorities identified as the home of Louis Prevost, the Chicago-born pontiff's brother. Police evacuated the neighborhood and deployed an explosives detection K9 unit, though no explosives were found and the threat was ultimately deemed "unsubstantiated."
New Lenox Police Chief Micah Nuesse confirmed the investigation remains "active and ongoing," while Mayor Tim Baldermann revealed the threat arrived via email. The mayor emphasized that the swift police response wasn't due to preferential treatment, stating, "No matter who the resident was, we would have responded the same way."
The incident comes amid a highly publicized feud between Pope Leo XIV and Donald Trump, who have exchanged pointed criticisms through media channels this week. What makes the targeting particularly puzzling is Trump's previous social media praise for Louis Prevost, whom he described as "all MAGA" and someone he likes "much better than I like [Leo]."
Authorities have not determined whether the papal-Trump conflict motivated the threat, as the suspect remains unidentified. The Chicago Tribune reported that investigators are examining all possible angles in what Mayor Baldermann characterized as a "targeted threat" against the pontiff's family member.