Silicon Valley billionaire Peter Thiel, a figure never far from controversy, has found himself once again at the center of a heated debate—this time in Rome, where he launched a private, invitation-only lecture series on the concept of the Antichrist. The event, which began on March 15, 2026, and is set to run through March 18, has drawn intense scrutiny from Catholic commentators, Italian lawmakers, and the international press. The lectures, shrouded in secrecy and held at an undisclosed location, have become one of the most talked-about intellectual gatherings in the Vatican’s backyard, even as the institutions initially linked to the event have distanced themselves.
According to the Associated Press, Thiel’s four-lecture series was initially reported to be held at the Pontifical St. Thomas Aquinas University—better known as the Angelicum. However, as word of the event spread and Italian media started probing, the university quickly issued a statement: “We would like to clarify that this event is not organised by the University, will not take place at the Angelicum, and is not part of any of our institutional initiatives.” The Catholic University of America similarly denied involvement, noting that the Cluny Project, which was rumored to be connected, is “an independent initiative incubated at the university.”
Despite the denials, the lectures have managed to capture the imagination of Rome’s intellectual and religious circles. Reuters reported that the conference is strictly invitation-only, with participants drawn from academia, technology, and religious communities. Organizers have kept the location under wraps, and the press has been barred from attending, adding to the mystique—and the controversy—surrounding the event.
The content of Thiel’s lectures, according to the event invitation cited by AP, is anchored on science and technology, with a focus on “the theology, history, literature and politics of the Antichrist.” Thiel, co-founder of PayPal and Palantir Technologies, is known for his deep interest in apocalyptic themes and has been described as “somewhat obsessed with the Antichrist” and Armageddon. His fascination is not new; last year, he delivered a similar series of talks in San Francisco exploring how the Antichrist might emerge on the global stage.
Thiel’s religious background is as complex as his business career. Raised in an evangelical Christian family in Germany, he has often cited Christianity as central to his worldview. According to Reuters, Thiel has expressed particular wariness that an Antichrist could emerge who would create a one-world government—ostensibly to prevent disasters like nuclear war, artificial intelligence gone awry, or climate catastrophe. He has not shied away from using the biblical figure to criticize public figures and institutions he sees as overreaching, including environmental activist Greta Thunberg, whom he has accused of arguing “for world government to stop science.”
The political backdrop to Thiel’s Roman adventure is impossible to ignore. As AP notes, Thiel is a prominent supporter of former President Donald Trump and has close ties to Vice President JD Vance, whom some see as a protégé. His company, Palantir, has been a major player in providing data analysis tools to governments and defense forces, including the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, where Palantir’s software has been used to streamline the process of identifying migrants targeted for deportation. In Italy, Palantir has already established a foothold; in 2024, the Italian defense ministry launched a procurement process for Gotham, the company’s flagship AI-driven investigative platform.
These connections have not gone unnoticed by Italian lawmakers. According to Euractiv, several members of parliament have raised questions about whether Thiel is planning meetings with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government or if there are existing contractual relationships between Palantir and the Italian public administration. The scrutiny is heightened by the fact that Thiel’s visit follows a string of trips to Italy by high-profile figures from the U.S. conservative movement, including Steve Bannon, Elon Musk, and JD Vance himself.
The Vatican, too, has been drawn into the fray. Under Pope Leo—the first American to hold the papacy—the Catholic Church has openly criticized some of Trump’s right-wing policies and has warned of the dangers posed by artificial intelligence. Father Paolo Benanti, an advisor to the pope on AI, wrote in an essay for Le Grand Continent that Thiel operates as a “political theologian” within Silicon Valley. Benanti’s critique was pointed: “Thiel’s entire action can... be read as a prolonged act of heresy against the liberal consensus: a challenge to the very foundations of civil coexistence, which he now considers outdated.” The piece, provocatively headlined “American heresy: should Peter Thiel be burned at the stake?” reflects the strong emotions Thiel’s presence has stirred among Catholic intellectuals.
L’Avvenire, a newspaper owned by the Italian bishops’ conference, echoed these concerns, publishing a series of articles highly critical of Thiel. One article warned that technology leaders should not be allowed to set their own ethical boundaries, arguing that governments must defend democratic oversight of digital platforms and resist the spread of disinformation.
Despite all the speculation, both the Vatican and the Italian government have publicly stated that no meetings are scheduled between Thiel and either Pope Leo or Prime Minister Meloni. The pope’s official agenda makes no mention of the event, and Meloni’s office has similarly denied any planned engagement.
For Thiel, the lectures represent the latest chapter in a career that has increasingly blended technology, politics, and religion. His move from Silicon Valley boardrooms to the cloistered salons of Rome signals a growing willingness to engage with the world’s deepest philosophical and theological questions—even if it means courting controversy at every turn.
As the private seminar draws to a close, one thing is clear: Peter Thiel’s foray into the heart of Catholic Rome has reignited debates about the intersection of technology, faith, and power. Whether seen as a bold intellectual exercise or a provocative act of heresy, his lectures have left an indelible mark on the city—and perhaps, on the broader conversation about who gets to shape the ethical boundaries of the digital age.