Pope Leo’s AI encyclical sparks speculation over Peter Thiel target
The 40,000-word papal proclamation *Magnifica Humanitas* urges technology to serve humanity through local responsibility, diverging sharply from the messianic ambitions of Silicon Valley’s most prominent libertarian figures.
Pope Leo has released *Magnifica Humanitas*, a 40,000-word encyclical addressing artificial intelligence and technology, which has drawn attention for its single literary reference: a quote from J.R.R. Tolkien’s character Gandalf. The passage, drawn from *The Return of the King*, advocates for local responsibility and "small and steadfast acts of fidelity" rather than attempting to master global forces. This inclusion has sparked speculation that the document is an indirect response to Peter Thiel, a prominent tech investor and vocal Tolkien enthusiast who has previously warned of an "Antichrist" figure associated with global governance.
The encyclical calls for a "civilization of love" and urges technology to serve humanity, contrasting with what it describes as "messianic" or disruptive technological ambitions. The Gandalf quote emphasises uprooting evil in known fields to ensure a clean earth for future generations, a sentiment the Pope links to a bulwark against dehumanisation. This stands in stark contrast to Thiel’s view of AI as a saviour against regulatory "safetyism," which he argues leads to stagnation.
Thiel’s network frequently utilises Tolkien-themed nomenclature, reinforcing the perception of a targeted message. His venture capital firm, Founders Fund, has been nicknamed "The Precious" by insiders, while other ventures include Palantir, Mithril Capital Management, and Valar Ventures. Protégés such as US Vice President J.D. Vance and Palmer Luckey have also adopted fantasy references, with Vance founding Narya and Luckey launching Anduril.
The theological and political divergence is significant. Thiel has framed his opposition to AI regulation as a battle against the "Antichrist," citing 1 Thessalonians 5:3 to argue that safetyism is a slogan of the Antichrist. He has hosted controversial, invitation-only conferences in Rome on the topic, which Catholic universities initially associated with but later denied official involvement in. Thiel views technology as the means to save the world from stagnation, whereas the encyclical positions unregulated AI as a potential tool for dehumanisation.
The release of *Magnifica Humanitas* marks a shift from the Vatican’s 2020 Rome Call for AI Ethics, moving from bioethics to broader human futures amid the rise of ChatGPT and US-China technological rivalry. The document explicitly asks tech leaders to abandon dreams of transhumanism in favour of something more truly human, offering a vision of building through love and charity rather than revolutionary disruption.
