Alessandro Sforza (Cardinal)

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Alessandro Sforza (* 1534 in Rome , † May 16, 1581 in Macerata ) was an Italian cardinal and bishop of Parma . He was a grandson of Pope Paul III. and a younger brother of Cardinal Guido Ascanio Sforza di Santa Fiora .

Life

He was the son of Bosio II. Sforza , 4th Conte di Santa Fiora, and his wife Costanza Farnese , a natural and legitimate daughter of Paul III. His nephew, Francesco Sforza , and a great-nephew, Federico Sforza , later also became cardinals. Alessandro Sforza held the title of Magister . He became the papal local chaplain and scriptor of the Apostolic Letters. On January 12, 1554 he was appointed cleric of the Apostolic Chamber and on April 18 of the same year received the title of canon of the Vatican Basilica . Due to an incident with two French ships that he had sailed from the port of Civitavecchia to Gaeta, Pope Paul IV removed him from all his offices and benefices . After the ships returned and at the request of several cardinals, Sforza was reinstated by the Pope on October 8, 1557 in his earlier rights. Alessandro Sforza received the ordination as subdeacon .

On April 26, 1560, Alessandro Sforza was elected Bishop of Parma, nothing is known about the episcopal ordination . On July 1, 1560, he was appointed Prefect of Annona. From 1562 to 1563 he took part in the Council of Trent .

Pope Pius IV created him in the consistory of March 12, 1565 as cardinal priest . Alessandro Sforza received the red hat and Santa Maria in Via as the titular church on May 15, 1565. He took part in the conclave 1565–1566 , which Pius V elected as Pope. Together with the Cardinals Giovanni Ricci , Gianfrancesco Commendone and Marcantonio Bobba , he was appointed inspector of the rivers, ports and public roads of Rome by Pius V. From January 5, 1570 he was legatus a latere in Bologna and Romagna . He was a participant in the conclave of 1572 , in which Pope Gregory XIII. was chosen. During his pontificate, Alessandro Sforza was appointed archpriest of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore and as such opened the Holy Door for the jubilee year 1575. As early as 1573 he had renounced the bishopric of Parma. On January 12, 1575 he was appointed Prefect of the Apostolic Signature . From July 11, 1580, he was a legate throughout the Papal States to stop the robbery .

Alessandro Sforza died suddenly on May 16, 1581 at the age of 47. He was buried in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.

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predecessor Office successor
Carlo Borromeo Archpriest of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore
1572–1581
Filippo Boncompagni
Guido Ascanio Sforza di Santa Fiora Bishop of Parma
1560–1573
Ferdinando Farnese