diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f42f401..af20222 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -78,6 +78,25 @@ A library rendered before the answers file existed needs one written by hand fir
 answers it was rendered with, `_src_path: gh:bedrock-python/python-library-template`,
 and as `_commit` the template commit it was rendered from, or the closest one.
 
+## The release App
+
+Release Please opens and updates its release PR with a token of an org-owned GitHub App.
+With the workflow's own `GITHUB_TOKEN`, the PR's CI run is held and never starts, the
+required "All checks passed" never reports, and the PR can only be merged after someone
+closes and reopens it. One App serves every library and is set up once:
+
+1. Create a GitHub App owned by the org (org Settings → Developer settings → GitHub Apps):
+   webhook off, repository permissions **Contents: Read and write** and **Pull requests:
+   Read and write**, installable on this account only.
+2. Install it on the org, for all repositories.
+3. In org Settings → Secrets and variables → Actions, visible to all repositories:
+   variable `RELEASE_PLEASE_APP_CLIENT_ID` = the App's Client ID, secret
+   `RELEASE_PLEASE_APP_PRIVATE_KEY` = a private key generated for it.
+
+Release PRs, tags and GitHub Releases are then authored by the App's bot account. While
+the variable is unset, the workflow falls back to `GITHUB_TOKEN` and its run carries a
+warning, and `setup_repo.py` warns for any repository that cannot see the two names.
+
 ## For AI Agents
 
 See [`.claude/LIBRARY_CREATION.md`](.claude/LIBRARY_CREATION.md) for important rules:
diff --git a/scripts/setup_repo.py b/scripts/setup_repo.py
index 6f3be87..f5944ca 100644
--- a/scripts/setup_repo.py
+++ b/scripts/setup_repo.py
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@
 
 RULESET_NAME = "master-rules"
 REQUIRED_CHECK = "All checks passed"
+RELEASE_APP_CLIENT_ID = "RELEASE_PLEASE_APP_CLIENT_ID"  # organization variable
+RELEASE_APP_PRIVATE_KEY = "RELEASE_PLEASE_APP_PRIVATE_KEY"  # organization secret
 MAX_TOPICS = 20
 
 
@@ -111,6 +113,22 @@ def has_workflow(name: str) -> bool:
             gh(f"repos/{repo}/pages", "-X", "POST", payload={"build_type": "workflow"}, ok=(409,))
             pages = gh(f"repos/{repo}/pages", ok=(404,))
 
+    if has_workflow("release-please.yml"):
+        # Without the App the release PR is opened with GITHUB_TOKEN and CI never
+        # runs on it; the workflow falls back and warns, this says so up front.
+        step("Release Please: the release App's client ID and private key reach the repository")
+        def visible(kind: str) -> set[str]:
+            names: set[str] = set()
+            for scope in (f"organization-{kind}", kind):
+                listed = gh(f"repos/{repo}/actions/{scope}?per_page=100", ok=(403, 404)) or {}
+                names.update(item["name"] for item in listed.get(kind, []))
+            return names
+
+        for kind, name in (("variables", RELEASE_APP_CLIENT_ID), ("secrets", RELEASE_APP_PRIVATE_KEY)):
+            if name not in visible(kind):
+                print(f"     [WARN] Actions {kind[:-1]} {name} is not visible to {repo}: CI will not run on"
+                      " release PRs until it is (template README, 'The release App')")
+
     step("Actions: workflows get a read-only token unless they ask for more; Release Please may open PRs")
     gh(f"repos/{repo}/actions/permissions/workflow", "-X", "PUT",
        payload={"default_workflow_permissions": "read", "can_approve_pull_request_reviews": True})
diff --git a/template/.github/workflows/release-please.yml b/template/.github/workflows/release-please.yml
index 8947d93..5b29311 100644
--- a/template/.github/workflows/release-please.yml
+++ b/template/.github/workflows/release-please.yml
@@ -12,7 +12,31 @@ jobs:
   release-please:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
+      # A pull request opened or updated with GITHUB_TOKEN does not get a CI run
+      # that ever starts, so the release PR could not pass its required check
+      # until a person closed and reopened it. A token of the org's release App
+      # starts CI like anyone else's push. Until the App is set up, GITHUB_TOKEN
+      # is used and the run says so. Setup, once per org:
+      # https://github.com/bedrock-python/python-library-template#the-release-app
+      - name: Token from the release App
+        id: app
+        if: vars.RELEASE_PLEASE_APP_CLIENT_ID != ''
+        uses: actions/create-github-app-token@v3
+        with:
+          client-id: ${{ vars.RELEASE_PLEASE_APP_CLIENT_ID }}
+          private-key: ${{ secrets.RELEASE_PLEASE_APP_PRIVATE_KEY }}
+          permission-contents: write
+          permission-pull-requests: write
+
+      - name: No release App
+        if: steps.app.outcome == 'skipped'
+        run: >-
+          echo "::warning::RELEASE_PLEASE_APP_CLIENT_ID is not set, so the release PR
+          is opened with GITHUB_TOKEN and CI will not run on it: close and reopen it
+          right before merging."
+
       - uses: googleapis/release-please-action@v5
         with:
+          token: ${{ steps.app.outputs.token || github.token }}
           config-file: release-please-config.json
           manifest-file: .release-please-manifest.json
diff --git a/template/NEW_LIBRARY_CHECKLIST.md.jinja b/template/NEW_LIBRARY_CHECKLIST.md.jinja
index 1389f7f..a51af5b 100644
--- a/template/NEW_LIBRARY_CHECKLIST.md.jinja
+++ b/template/NEW_LIBRARY_CHECKLIST.md.jinja
@@ -51,6 +51,8 @@ This configures (idempotent, re-run any time):
   private vulnerability reporting
 - A `master` ruleset: pull requests only, no force-push or deletion, `All checks passed`
   required (left out with a warning if CI has not reported yet — re-run after it has)
+- A warning if the repository cannot see the release App's credentials: release PRs
+  would then get no CI (template README, "The release App")
 
 ## Step 4 — PyPI Trusted Publisher (manual)