Silicon Valley tech billionaire Peter Thiel delivers a series of invitation-only lectures on the Antichrist, drawing massive interest and sparking debate in Rome. The event runs from Sunday to Wednesday near the Vatican, attracting crowds eager for insights from the prominent entrepreneur.
Thiel’s Background and Tech Empire
Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal and Palantir Technologies, maintains deep ties to U.S. politics. Palantir supports the Trump administration’s efforts to streamline migrant deportations through advanced data analytics. Thiel also provided early financial backing to Vice President JD Vance’s career, including millions for his Senate primary win.
Event Sparks University Denials
Rumors initially linked the lectures to the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, known as the Angelicum, where Pope Leo XIV completed his canon law doctorate. The university quickly clarified its position: “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.”
Organizers include the Vincenzo Gioberti Cultural Association, an Italian group focused on renewing political culture through classical and Christian traditions. The association promotes research rooted in this heritage to tackle modern Western crises. The Cluny Institute, linked to the Catholic University of America, co-organizes but operates ly. A university spokesperson confirmed: “The Catholic University of America is not sponsoring or hosting an event featuring Peter Thiel this month in Rome. The Cluny Project is an initiative incubated at the university.”
Thiel’s Fascination with Apocalyptic Themes
Thiel explores the Antichrist—a biblical figure opposing Christ—and Armageddon through the lens of today’s existential threats in science and technology. In a November essay for First Things, he reflected: “Christians debated these prophecies for millennia. Who was the Antichrist? When would he arrive? What would he preach?”
The Rome series mirrors a four-part lecture he presented in San Francisco last September. Invitations describe the talks as anchored in science, technology, theology, history, literature, and politics, drawing on thinkers like René Girard, Francis Bacon, Jonathan Swift, Carl Schmitt, and John Henry Newman.
Connections to PayPal Mafia and Politics
Thiel co-founded PayPal in 1998 alongside figures like Tesla CEO Elon Musk, forming the influential “PayPal Mafia.” After eBay acquired PayPal for $1.5 billion in 2002, he launched Clarium Capital Management and Palantir, which recently partnered with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Thiel advised President Trump in his first term and retains White House connections. Palantir contributes to White House projects, and former PayPal colleague David Sacks chairs the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. Thiel mentors Vance, a Catholic convert prominent in U.S. politics. Vance’s immigration stance, drawing on the Christian “order of love,” drew criticism from Pope Francis shortly before his death. Before becoming pope, Leo XIV shared an article titled “JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others.” Vance attended Leo’s installation and later met him, presenting a letter from Trump inviting a visit.
