In a process of hydrocracking heavy oil with a catalyst in petroleum refining, asphaltene contained in heavy oil, and impurities including heavy metals such as nickel and vanadium, are efficiently removed with activated carbon, whereby the reduction in catalyst activity or formation of coke by the impurities can be prevented. The invention provides a hydrocracking catalyst comprising activated carbon extrudate as a carrier activated with steam and having a high distribution of pores having pore sizes in the range of 20 to 200 nm.