Police investigate bomb scare at Pope Leo's brother's house in Illinois

Illinois' New Lenox Police Department announced late on Wednesday that officers had responded to a reported bomb threat at a private residence on Sojourn Road. WMAQ-TV reported that the home belongs to retired educator John Prevost, one of Pope Leo XIV's older brothers.

According to police, officers arrived on the scene around 6:30 p.m., established a secure perimeter, and ordered the evacuation of surrounding homes.

'I no longer answer the phone.'

Specialized units, including the Will County Sheriff's Office explosive detection K-9, aided in an examination of the property that turned up no signs of explosive devices or hazardous materials.

"Making false reports of this nature is a serious offense and may result in criminal charges," said the NLPD.

Authorities are investigating the bomb threat.

John Prevost revealed to WMAQ in August that many had begun treating him as a proxy for his brother in Rome, noting that he was, for instance, receiving letters daily containing prayer requests.

RELATED: Pope responds after repeated attacks by Trump over war criticism: 'I have no fear'

L-R: Nathan Howard/Getty Images; Yara Nardi/POOL/AFP/Getty Images

"I no longer answer the phone unless I know who it is," he added.

The fake bomb threat comes just days after President Donald Trump attacked Pope Leo over his criticism of the U.S.-Israeli military actions in and around Iran, writing on Truth Social, "Leo should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician."

In the post, Trump also mentioned the pope's other brother.

"I like his brother Louis much better than I like him, because Louis is all MAGA," said Trump. "He gets it, and Leo doesn’t! I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon."

Criticism of the pope, especially by certain elements on the right, spiked in the wake of Trump's message and Leo's response. "I do not think the message of the gospel should be abused as some are doing. I continue to speak strongly against war, seeking to promote peace, dialogue, and multilateralism among states to find solutions to problems."

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