Billionaire Thiel Lectures on Antichrist Near Vatican

Thiel's controversial theory blends theology and Silicon Valley's AI fears, sparking criticism from Vatican-linked institutions.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 2:34pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

US-German billionaire Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal and Palantir, is holding a closed-door conference in Rome this week presenting his theory that the biblical Antichrist may appear not as a malevolent figure, but as a 'reassuring actor' aiming to manage technological risks like AI through a centralized global government. The event near the Vatican has drawn criticism from Vatican-linked institutions, who argue Thiel's vision favors an elite 'superplutocracy' over human redemption. Thiel has also faced scrutiny over his ties to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Why it matters

Thiel's controversial lectures on the Antichrist near the Vatican highlight the growing intersection of theology, technology, and power dynamics within the global elite. His theory that the Antichrist could emerge as a benevolent technocratic leader reflects Silicon Valley's anxieties over existential risks, but also raises concerns about concentrations of unaccountable power.

The details

Thiel's invitation-only conference, which began on Sunday and runs through Wednesday, is taking place at a secret location near the Vatican. The content of the lectures, which are closed to the media and under tight security, is expected to focus on Thiel's theory that the biblical Antichrist may appear not as a malevolent figure, but as 'a reassuring actor' and heroic administrator aiming to manage technological risks like AI, climate change, and nuclear war by convincing the world to unite under a single centralized government.

  • The conference began on Sunday, March 16, 2026 and runs through Wednesday, March 19, 2026.

The players

Peter Thiel

A US-German billionaire, co-founder of PayPal and Palantir Technologies, who is hosting the controversial conference on the Antichrist near the Vatican.

Jeffrey Epstein

A late convicted sex offender who had extensive ties to Thiel, including hundreds of email exchanges and a $40 million investment in Thiel's fund.

Avvenire

A Milan-based newspaper owned by a conference of Italian bishops that published an article criticizing Thiel's vision as favoring an elite 'superplutocracy' over human redemption.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The Vatican and other Catholic institutions are expected to continue monitoring Thiel's conference and its potential implications.

The takeaway

Thiel's controversial lectures on the Antichrist near the Vatican underscore the growing intersection of theology, technology, and power dynamics within the global elite, raising concerns about the concentration of unaccountable power in the hands of technocratic leaders.