Tech Billionaire Peter Thiel Sparks Controversy with Vatican-Area Antichrist Lectures

PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel is delivering a controversial four-day lecture series on the Antichrist in Rome near the Vatican. Catholic universities initially linked to the event have distanced themselves from the invitation-only talks.

A four-day lecture series focused on the Antichrist has become one of Rome’s most sought-after events, drawing both fascination and controversy as Silicon Valley billionaire Peter Thiel presents his views just steps from Vatican City.

The exclusive, invitation-only conference running from Sunday through Wednesday has generated such debate that multiple Catholic educational institutions originally tied to the event have publicly distanced themselves from any official participation.

Thiel, who helped establish PayPal and founded data analytics firm Palantir Technologies — a company currently supporting the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts — has long been fascinated by apocalyptic themes. The tech mogul, who was an early financial supporter of Vice President JD Vance’s political rise, has previously explored the concept of the Antichrist in his writings and speeches.

In a November piece published in First Things, a Catholic publication, Thiel reflected: “Christians debated these prophecies for millennia. Who was the Antichrist? When would he arrive? What would he preach?”

The decision to host such discussions by a technology executive so close to the Vatican has created significant division among Catholic observers.

Originally, reports suggested the presentations would take place at the Pontifical St. Thomas Aquinas University, commonly called the Angelicum, a Dominican institution in Rome. This university holds particular significance as the location where the current Pope Leo XIV, then known as Father Robert Prevost, completed his doctoral studies in canon law.

However, as Italian news outlets began reporting on the alleged secretive nature of Thiel’s Antichrist lectures at the pope’s former university, the Angelicum quickly issued a clarification.

The university posted on its website: “We would like to clarify that this event is not organized by the University, will not take place at the Angelicum, and is not part of any of our institutional initiatives.”

Documentation obtained by The Associated Press indicates the lecture series was described as a collaborative effort between Italy’s Vincenzo Gioberti Cultural Association and the Cluny Institute, which operates under the Catholic University of America in Washington.

The Gioberti organization, which takes its name from a 19th-century Italian Catholic priest and philosopher, confirmed its participation. In their statement, the cultural group expressed commitment to fostering research and dialogue “based on the great tradition of classical and Christian thought. We believe this heritage is fundamental to addressing the crisis engulfing the contemporary West.”

However, the Catholic University of America sought to clarify its role in the proceedings.

A university representative told the Associated Press: “The Catholic University of America is not sponsoring or hosting an event featuring Peter Thiel this month in Rome. The Cluny Project is an independent initiative incubated at the university.”

The Cluny Institute represents a recent effort by CUA to foster connections between academic, religious, and technological leaders. The university previously welcomed Thiel to its Washington location in 2023 for a discussion about French scholar René Girard.

Thiel has demonstrated a particular fascination with the Antichrist — the biblical figure representing opposition to Christ — and Armageddon, described in scripture as the ultimate confrontation between good and evil. The billionaire frames these concepts as relevant to humanity’s current existential challenges and technological crossroads.

The Roman presentations appear to mirror a similar four-part series Thiel conducted in San Francisco last September, with some Rome invitations directly copying language from the California event.

One invitation described the content: “His remarks will be anchored on science and technology, and will comment on the theology, history, literature and politics of the Antichrist. Religious thinkers upon whom Peter will draw include René Girard, Francis Bacon, Jonathan Swift, Carl Schmitt and John Henry Newman.”

Following PayPal’s creation in 1998, Thiel became part of what observers dubbed the “PayPal Mafia,” a network that included future Tesla chief Elon Musk, Yelp’s Jeremy Stoppelman, and YouTube creators Chad Hurley and Steve Chen.

After eBay acquired PayPal for $1.5 billion in 2002, Thiel established hedge fund Clarium Capital Management and co-founded Palantir Technologies. His data company recently secured a contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enhance identification and deportation procedures for targeted individuals.

Throughout President Donald Trump’s initial term, Thiel served as both advisor and financial contributor, maintaining connections to the current White House. Palantir has contributed to the administration’s ballroom renovation project, while David Sacks, Thiel’s former PayPal colleague, now leads the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.

Thiel’s relationship with Vice President Vance runs particularly deep. The tech entrepreneur invested millions in Vance’s Senate primary campaign, positioning the future vice president for Trump’s selection as running mate. Many observers view Thiel as having mentored Vance, who converted to Catholicism and represents the most prominent Catholic figure in current American politics.

Vance’s religious reasoning for the administration’s immigration policies, drawing on traditional Christian concepts about prioritizing love for family and community, faced criticism from Pope Francis shortly before the pontiff’s death.

Months before his papal election, the future Pope Leo XIV shared an article on his now-inactive social media account titled: “JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others.”

Despite this theological disagreement, Vance attended Leo’s papal installation ceremony and later met privately with the pope, delivering Trump’s invitation for a papal visit to the United States.