A tech billionaire’s lectures on the antichrist have become one of the most talked-about events in Rome.
The invitation-only talks by Peter Thiel have caused Catholic universities to distance themselves from the gathering taking place close to the Vatican.
The lecture series that ran from Sunday to Wednesday, drew attention for exploring the biblical concept of the antichrist.
According to the Associated Press, the event was organised by the Vincenzo Gioberti Cultural Association alongside the Cluny Institute.
Initial reports suggested the talks would be held at Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, a Catholic university in Rome sometimes known as the Angelicum. However, the university later issued a statement saying the lectures were not organised by the institution and would not take place on its campus.
Thiel, a co-founder of PayPal and Palantir Technologies, has previously written about the antichrist and apocalyptic themes in Christian thought.
In an essay for the Catholic magazine First Things, he reflected on how Christians have debated the identity and timing of the antichrist for centuries.
The technology entrepreneur has said his reflections link theology with modern concerns about science, politics and the future of humanity.
The lectures attracted attention in Rome partly because they took place in the Vatican’s backyard, during the papacy of Pope Leo XIV.