In a statement on Thursday, New Lenox police confirmed they responded at around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday to the residence of John Prevost, one of the Pope's older brothers, located about 40 miles southwest of Chicago.
Authorities secured the area and evacuated nearby homes as a precaution, conducting "a thorough search of the residence and surrounding property" with specialized units and explosive detection K9s before determining the threat was "unsubstantiated and that no explosive devices or hazardous materials were present."
No injuries were reported, and residents were allowed to return home after the security situation was cleared.
Meanwhile, Police Chief Micah D. Nuesse said the investigation into the origin of the threat remains "active and ongoing."
Officials also warned that "making false reports of this nature is a serious offense and may result in criminal charges," urging anyone with information to come forward.
Against this backdrop, the incident unfolds amid intensifying political hostility linked to the war with Iran.
The threat emerged as tensions grow between Trump and Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff, following the Pope's outspoken criticism of the war, which he has framed as morally unjust and contrary to fundamental religious principles.
Trump escalated the dispute on Sunday, calling the Pope "WEAK on crime" and "terrible for Foreign Policy," remarks widely seen as dismissive of the Pope's calls for restraint and peace.
In response, Leo stated he has "no fear of the Trump administration" and pledged to continue advocating for peace, emphasizing that his position is rooted in the Gospel.
Trump later shared, and then deleted, a social media post featuring an AI-generated image portraying himself as a Christ-like figure, after stating he is "not a big fan of Pope Leo."
At the same time, the Pope has continued to emphasize a moral critique of war during his international trip.
Leo is currently on an 11-day trip through North Africa honoring St. Augustine, a theologian who taught that war is only justified in defense of the innocent.
During a visit to a care home in Annaba, Algeria, on Tuesday, the Pope underlined the human cost of conflict, saying, "God's heart is torn apart by wars, violence, injustice and lies."
He added, "Our Father's heart is not with the wicked, the arrogant or the proud."
While authorities have not confirmed any link, the timing of the threat raises concerns about the consequences of inflammatory rhetoric.
It remains unclear whether the bomb threat is directly connected to the ongoing political dispute, but the sequence of public attacks followed by threats against family members has drawn scrutiny.