NEW LENOX, IL — The New Lenox home of Pope Leo XIV's brother was targeted in what turned out to be an unfounded bomb threat Wednesday evening, New Lenox police confirmed.
The threat—sent by email to both local police and the Will County Sheriff's Office—prompted evacuations in the New Lenox neighborhood as authorities descended on the scene to investigate. Police did not initially publicly disclose the homeowner's identity.
New Lenox police and the Will County Sheriff's bomb squad were called to a private citizen's home on Sojourn Road Wednesday evening to investigate a bomb threat made against the residence, police said. The threat came in at approximately 6:30 p.m., and police were immediately dispatched to the scene and established a perimeter to ensure the safety of nearby residents. Residents nearby were notified and ordered to evacuate as specialized units, including the Will County Sheriff's Office bomb squad and detection K9, worked the scene.
A search of the residence and surrounding property was conducted, and investigators determined the threat to be unsubstantiated and that no explosive devices or hazardous materials were found, police said. No injuries were reported, and residents were allowed to return to their homes after the scene was cleared.
The incident remains under investigation as authorities work to determine the origin of the unfounded threat.
"Making reports of this nature is a serious offense and may result in criminal charges," police said in a release. Anyone with information on the incident is encouraged to contact the New Lenox Police Department at 815-485-2500.
The threat came amid President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance criticizing the Pope over his anti-war comments. Following a social media post by Trump last week threatening Iran by saying a "whole civilization will die," Leo has ramped up his criticism of the president and his rhetoric, while the Pentagon is denying reports of friction between the pontiff and the president.
Trump, though, has blasted Pope Leo as "weak on crime, terrible for foreign policy," among other criticisms.
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