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Vatican Invites Hackers To Fix Problems, Not Breach Security (apnews.com)

Posted by msmash on from the interesting-times-ahead dept.

From a report: Computer hackers with a heart are descending on the Vatican to help tackle pressing problems particularly dear to Pope Francis, including how to better provide resources for migrants and encourage solidarity for the poor. The "Vatican Hackathon," an around-the-clock computer programming marathon, starts Thursday in the Vatican, with the full support of the pope, several Vatican offices and student volunteers from Harvard and MIT. Organizers stressed that no firewalls will be breached or acts of computer piracy committed.

5 of 72 comments (clear)

  1. Jesus was a hacker. by Comboman · · Score: 3, Funny

    Think about it: unruly beard, no girlfriend, lived with his mom til he was 30.

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    Support Right To Repair Legislation.
    1. Re:Jesus was a hacker. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God." (1 Cor 1:18)

      Some truths are abundantly timeless. This is one of them.

  2. Original sense of hacking by SirGarlon · · Score: 3, Informative

    Thank you, Vatican, for using the word "hacking" in the original sense as hackers themselves defined it. Before the mainstream press appropriated it and turned it into a perjorative.

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    [Sir Garlon] is the marvellest knight that is now living, for he destroyeth many good knights, for he goeth invisible.
  3. If hackers really wanted to help the poor by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    They could just hack the Vatican's accounts. That would be stealing just like how the popes stole it originally during the crusades. Probably they will just end up showing cardinals how to hide their digital footprints when abusing children, its a long standing tradition in the Catholic church to cover up abuses rather than punish those responsible.

  4. Someone is going to propose a Papal Blockchain by The+voice+of+Reason. · · Score: 2

    Blockchain consultant: "You see - it is all meet and right, for in the beginning, your Holyness, we shall have a Genesis Block. And thus through Proof of Works shall we suffer the poor to mine unto God what is God's for the glory of the one true Fork."

    Papa F: "My child, this proposal seems canonically inconsistent with doctrines concerning salvation by faith. Indeed, should we not tempt the poor into the servitude of Mammon by making each the hustler of his fellow man, the wealthy must be persuaded to - what's that word you use - "bootstrap" the tithing with their voluntary contributions."

    Blockchain consultant: "Your foresight is without equal, oh primus inter pares, for we deal address this in the next slide deck, "Phase 2: Indulgence Coin Offering"

    Papa F: "A righteous solution, but how do you propose we explain all of this to the flock?"

    Blockchain consultant: "We shall distribute this wisdom through the establishment of an official education and outreach program, a Center For Decentralization, if you will"

    Papa F: "Ah! Complex problem answered by a Holy Mystery; the Eastern Orthodox will certainly be envious. However I have a final inquisition for you."

    Blockchain consultant: "By your grace, please ask"

    Papa F: "What's Phase 3?"