A hydrocarbon reforming catalyst which maintains carrier strength even
after a long-term thermal history and which exhibits high catalytic
activity is prepared by causing at least one noble metal component
selected from among a ruthenium component, a platinum component, a
rhodium component, a palladium component, and an iridium component to be
supported on a carrier containing manganese oxide, alumina, and at least
one compound selected from among lanthanum oxide, cerium oxide, and
zirconium oxide, or a carrier containing silicon oxide, manganese oxide,
and alumina. By use of the reforming catalyst, hydrogen is produced
through steam reforming (1), autothermal reforming (2), partial-oxidation
reforming (3), or carbon dioxide reforming (4). A fuel cell system is
constituted from a reformer employing the reforming catalyst, and a fuel
cell employing, as a fuel, hydrogen produced by the reformer.