Peter Thiel, the Silicon Valley billionaire, received a mixed reception upon his arrival in Rome, highlighted by a welcoming banner in front of the Colosseum. However, the atmosphere beneath the Vatican's St. Peter's dome was markedly different, with officials reacting negatively to Thiel's scheduled stop in the city and particularly his series of lectures on the Antichrist. There was considerable irritation in the Vatican regarding the organizers' attempts to associate the initiative with the Church by seeking out religious venues for the conferences and arranging an opening Mass.

The secrecy surrounding the event initially concealed the challenges faced by the promoters from the Cultural Association Vincenzo Gioberti in securing a church for the announced Mass. Their aim was to hold a liturgy in the old rite, and they had found availability at the Basilica of San Giovanni Battista. However, the efforts to coordinate with traditionalist factions within the church revealed deep divisions over the acceptance of such events, particularly from more conservative members of the clergy who are concerned about integrating modern influencers into sacred spaces.

The ongoing tensions highlight a broader conflict within the Church regarding modernity versus tradition, particularly as influential figures like Thiel attempt to navigate these waters. The clash reflects both personal ambitions and larger ideological battles within Catholicism today, as traditionalists resist what they perceive as encroachments by modern culture into the church's sanctity, making this situation emblematic of the struggles facing the Vatican.