Popes Brother EVACUATED After Targeted at Home

A retired Catholic school principal in suburban Chicago became the target of a politically charged bomb hoax days after his brother—the sitting pope—clashed publicly with President Donald Trump over Iran policy.

Story Snapshot

John Prevost, brother of Pope Leo XIV and retired principal, received an emailed bomb threat at his New Lenox, Illinois home on April 15, 2026
Police evacuated neighbors, deployed K-9 bomb units, and confirmed the threat was a hoax with no explosives found
The incident occurred days after Trump criticized Pope Leo XIV while praising another Prevost brother who supports MAGA politics
FBI joined the investigation to trace the email source as police increased patrols and warned of serious criminal charges
Local officials characterized the threat as having political undertones in what the mayor called a “sad state of affairs”

When Politics Invades a Quiet Suburb

The email arrived at New Lenox police headquarters at 6:29 p.m. on a Wednesday evening, claiming explosives had been planted at a home in this southwest Chicago suburb. What made this threat different from the typical hoax was the target: John Prevost, whose younger brother now sits on the throne of St. Peter as Pope Leo XIV. Within minutes, patrol cars converged on the residential street, officers knocked on doors ordering evacuations, and K-9 units trained to sniff out explosives began their methodical sweep. The scene had all the hallmarks of a genuine emergency response, but investigators would soon determine they were responding to something far more insidious than a simple prank.

New Lenox Police Chief Micah Nuesse oversaw a perimeter establishment that would last hours, coordinating with the Will County Sheriff’s Office bomb unit as neighbors stood outside wondering what threat had materialized on their normally peaceful block. The thoroughness of the search reflected both the seriousness with which law enforcement treats such threats and the high-profile nature of the Prevost family connection to the Vatican. By the time officers gave the all-clear and residents returned to their homes, one thing had become abundantly apparent: someone wanted to send a message, even if that message came wrapped in a lie.

The Trump Connection Nobody Could Ignore

The timing of the bomb threat raised immediate questions about motivation. Just days earlier, President Trump had unleashed a public attack on Pope Leo XIV, falsely accusing the pontiff of supporting Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Trump pointedly contrasted the pope with his Florida-based brother Louis Prevost, whom the president praised for his MAGA political alignment. This public spat between the American president and the head of the Catholic Church set the stage for what New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann would later describe as a threat with “tones perceived as political in nature.” The mayor’s carefully worded assessment captured what many were thinking but few officials would state directly: this hoax appeared designed to punish the pope’s family for his political stance.

Cardinal Blase Cupich of the Chicago Archdiocese had already weighed in on the Trump-pope exchange before the threat materialized, adding context to the escalating tensions between the White House and the Vatican. The fact that John Prevost—a retired educator known for his daily Wordle games with his papal brother rather than any political activism—became the target speaks volumes about how far political animosity can reach. The threat chose the wrong brother if the goal was to intimidate a political operative, but perhaps that was precisely the point: demonstrating that family connections to controversial figures carry consequences regardless of personal involvement.

FBI Joins Hunt for Digital Trail

The investigation shifted into federal territory when the FBI joined New Lenox police in tracing the email’s origin. This collaboration signals the seriousness with which authorities treat threats against individuals connected to foreign heads of state, even when those individuals are private citizens. Chief Nuesse announced increased patrols in the area while investigators worked to identify who sent the threatening email to both police and the Will County Sheriff’s Office. The public tip line at 815-485-2500 remains active as authorities pursue what they characterize as an ongoing and active investigation with potential charges ranging from local criminal offenses to federal crimes.

The consequences for making a false bomb threat carry substantial weight under both Illinois and federal law. Prosecutors treat such hoaxes as serious offenses precisely because they divert significant law enforcement resources, traumatize communities, and create genuine fear regardless of whether any actual explosives exist. The evacuation of neighboring homes, deployment of specialized K-9 units, establishment of security perimeters, and hours of investigation represent taxpayer resources deliberately wasted by someone who thought a political statement justified terrorizing a quiet residential neighborhood. As of mid-April 2026, no suspects have been named publicly, but the FBI’s involvement suggests investigators are pursuing digital forensic leads that could identify the email sender.

The Price of Papal Family Ties

John Prevost has declined to comment publicly about the incident, maintaining the low profile he kept throughout his career as a Catholic school principal. An Augustinian priest friend confirmed that Prevost “is fine,” but the emotional toll of having your home searched for explosives while neighbors evacuate cannot be easily measured. The Prevost family now faces a reality that few American families encounter: their private lives have become entangled in international political conflicts simply because one brother rose to lead the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics. The contrast between John’s quiet retirement in suburban Illinois and his brother’s Vatican responsibilities has never been starker than in this moment of crisis.

Mayor Baldermann captured the community sentiment when he characterized the situation as a “sad state of affairs,” reflecting disappointment that political rhetoric has apparently escalated to threats against private citizens. The incident raises uncomfortable questions about the boundaries of political discourse in an era where family members of public figures increasingly find themselves targeted for the positions their relatives take. Whether this bomb hoax represents an isolated incident or signals a troubling precedent for future threats against the papal family remains to be seen. What is certain is that the quiet suburb of New Lenox briefly became ground zero for tensions between American politics and Catholic leadership, leaving residents shaken and a retired educator wondering what price he will continue to pay for his brother’s vocation.