Pope calls for truce in Iran war as billionaire Peter Thiel stirs religious controversy in Rome

Pope Leo has issued a strong appeal for an immediate truce in the conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran, warning that the escalation of violence is causing massive suffering in the Middle East and risks destabilizing the entire region. The message was delivered during the Angelus prayer in St. Peter's Square, in front of thousands of believers gathered at the Vatican, Reuters reports. The statement comes as the war between the United States, Israel and Iran entered its third week and the death toll continues to rise.

• "Violence does not bring peace"

"For two weeks, the peoples of the Middle East have been suffering from the atrocious violence of war," the pope said. The pontiff appealed directly to the leaders involved in the conflict to cease hostilities. "In the name of Christians in the Middle East and of all women and men of good faith, I appeal to those responsible for this conflict: cease fire!” Pope Leo said. He stressed that thousands of innocent civilians have been killed and many families have been forced to flee their homes.

• Concern over the situation in Lebanon

The pope also mentioned the situation in Lebanon, where clashes between the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group and Israel have caused destruction and political instability.

"I hope for paths of dialogue that can support the country's authorities in implementing lasting solutions to the current serious crisis, for the common good of all the Lebanese people,” the pontiff said.

• Controversial Rome Conference on "Antichrist”

At the same time and in almost the same space, but in a different context, American billionaire Peter Thiel launched a series of private lectures in Rome dedicated to the theological concept of the Antichrist, an event that has attracted the attention of religious and academic circles, Reuters reports. The conference, organized behind closed doors and accessible only by invitation, brings together participants from academia, the technology sector and religious circles. The exact location of the meeting was not made public. Co-founder of the technology company Palantir Technologies, Thiel is known for his increasingly pronounced interest in philosophical and religious themes. During similar discussions organized last year in San Francisco, Thiel suggested that the emergence of an Antichrist could take the form of a global leader who promises to prevent major catastrophes - nuclear, technological or climate - by creating a single world government. The 58-year-old investor comes from an evangelical Christian family and has repeatedly said that his Christian faith influences his view of society and technology.

• Harsh criticism from Catholic circles

Thiel's presence in Rome has drawn criticism from some Catholic theologians. Father Paolo Benanti, the pope's adviser on artificial intelligence, described the billionaire's positions as a form of Silicon Valley "political theology,” according to Reuters. In an essay published on the Le Grand Continent platform, Benanti argued that Thiel's ideas represent a direct challenge to the Western liberal consensus. The article, provocatively titled "American Heresy: Should Peter Thiel Be Burned at the Stake?”, sparked intense debate in academic and religious circles. Peter Thiel is also known for his ties to conservative circles in Washington, having been an early supporter of former President Donald Trump. He has close ties to US Vice President JD Vance, who converted to Catholicism in recent years. Thiel's visit is part of a wider series of trips to Italy by important figures in the American conservative sphere, including Steve Bannon, Elon Musk and JD Vance. However, according to the official agenda, no meeting is scheduled between Peter Thiel and Pope Leo, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has not scheduled a meeting with the billionaire either.