Tech billionaire and venture capitalist Peter Thiel has launched a sharp critique of Pope Leo XIV, characterizing the pontiff’s recent stance on artificial intelligence as inadvertently supporting the agenda of the Chinese Communist Party.
Speaking at the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado this week, the PayPal and Palantir co-founder argued that the Pope’s 42,000-word encyclical, which calls for strict international regulation of AI to prevent “dehumanization,” presents a strategic risk to the United States. According to reporting by CNN, Thiel suggested that by advocating for a slowdown in AI development, the Vatican is effectively assisting China in the global race to achieve technological supremacy.
Thiel, who has previously described critics of AI as “agents for the Antichrist,” maintained that the U.S. must accelerate its own AI capabilities to remain competitive. He further alleged that the Pope’s moral guidance on the matter has been intentionally ignored by his political allies, including Vice President JD Vance.
The comments reflect Thiel’s broader concerns regarding both the geopolitical landscape and domestic politics. In addition to his criticism of the Vatican, Thiel warned of a “democratic-socialist takeover” within the U.S. Democratic Party, which he claimed could have severe long-term consequences for the nation. Recent reporting by The New York Times suggests that Thiel has been exploring Argentina as a potential “foothold” or alternative base, citing his growing concerns over the current political and economic climate in the United States.