---
title: "China Allegedly Hacked the Vatican, Other Catholic Computer Systems"
description: "State-backed Chinese hackers allegedly hacked the Vatican to get a leg up on upcoming diplomatic negotiations over Catholocism in China."
date: "2020-07-30"
modified: "2020-07-30"
authors:
  - name: "Dan Robitzski"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/danrobitzski"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/china-allegedly-hacked-vatican"
categories:
  - "Science & Energy"
tags:
  - "china"
  - "hacker"
  - "the digest"
  - "vatican"
---

# China Allegedly Hacked the Vatican, Other Catholic Computer Systems

![State-backed Chinese hackers allegedly hacked the Vatican to get a leg up on upcoming diplomatic negotiations over Catholocism in China.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/china-hacked-vatican.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: Diliff/Victor Tangermann\</em\>*

## Holy Hack

State-backed Chinese hackers allegedly targeted both the Vatican and the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong in a months-long attack.

The attacks, first spotted by the cybersecurity firm Recorded Future, occurred as the Vatican and Chinese government prepare for a round of diplomatic negotiations, [according to *The Associated Press*](<https://apnews.com/86d667d57bca41ddbc6f289d48f2dfe0>). China called the accusation "groundless speculation," but Recorded Future suggests that [state-backed hacker](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/china-hid-spyware-mandatory-tax-software>) group RedDelta attempted to give China a leg up in the upcoming talks.

## Aggressive Negotiations

In September, the Vatican and Chinese government are slated to begin renegotiations of a 2018 diplomatic agreement about bishop appointments within the country, according to *AP News*. The deal is a key part of the two parties' relationship.

"The suspected intrusion into the Vatican would offer RedDelta insight into the negotiating position of the Holy See ahead of the deal’s September 2020 renewal," reads [Recorded Futures' report](<https://www.recordedfuture.com/reddelta-targets-catholic-organizations/>).

## Underground Catholicism

Catholicism has been a problem for the Chinese government: *AP News* reports that the country's 12 million Catholics are split in half between a Chinese-backed sect and an underground church that remains loyal to the Pope.

The 2018 deal — and the upcoming renewal — was an attempt to unite the two factions. The original agreement recognized the status of seven state-appointed bishops who hadn't been approved by the Vatican, smoothing over relations between the two.

**READ MORE:** [Vatican allegedly hacked by China ahead of key talks](<https://apnews.com/86d667d57bca41ddbc6f289d48f2dfe0>) \[*The Associated Press*\]

**More on the Vatican:** *[Trolls Immediately Attack Vatican Minecraft Server](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/trolls-attack-vatican-minecraft-server>)*

## Author
Dan Robitzki is a senior reporter for Futurism, where he likes to cover AI, tech ethics, and medicine. He spends his extra time fencing and streaming games from Los Angeles, California.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://x.com/danrobitzski>)