Francesco Sfondrati
Francesco Sfondrati (born October 26, 1493 in Cremona , † July 31, 1550 there ) was an Italian cardinal and father of Pope Gregory XIV.
Life
Francesco Sfondrati was the son of Giovanni Battista Sfondrati, patrician in Cremona, and his wife Margherita Homodeo. He studied Greek and Latin at the University of Padua , where he obtained a doctorate in law. In 1518 he was professor of law at the University of Padua and later professor at the universities of Pavia , Bologna , Rome and Turin . He became adviser to the Duke of Savoy Charles III. and Senator in Turin. In 1527 and 1528 he was Podestà of Pavia. In 1530 he became an advisor to Francesco II Sforza , Duke of Milan, and Senator of Milan. He was the Privy Councilor of Emperor Charles V and was elevated to the rank of imperial count by him in 1534 . On October 23, 1537, the emperor appointed him Count of Riviera di Lecco. He married Anna Visconti and had seven children with her, the eldest of whom was Niccolò, who later became Pope as Gregory XIV. After his wife died on November 20, 1538, he entered the clergy and became apostolic protonotary de numero participantium and trainee lawyer at the courts of the Apostolic Signature . Nothing is known about an ordination .
On October 12, 1543 he was elected Bishop of Sarno , but there is no information about an episcopal ordination . He was extraordinary nuncio to King Ferdinand I. On October 27, 1544 he was made Archbishop of Amalfi .
Pope Paul III elevated him in the consistory of December 19, 1544 to cardinal priest and on March 2, 1545 awarded him the titular church of Santi Nereo ed Achilleo . On March 23, 1547 he was transferred to the episcopal see of Capaccio with the personal title of archbishop and moved on October 10, 1547 to the titular church of Sant'Anastasia . He was a participant in the conclave 1549-1550 , from the Julius III. emerged as Pope.
Francesco Sfondrati died on July 31, 1550 in Cremona and was buried in the local cathedral .
Web links
- Sfondrati, Francesco. In: Salvador Miranda : The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church. ( Florida International University website), accessed April 23, 2017.
- Entry on Francesco Sfondrati on catholic-hierarchy.org ; Retrieved April 23, 2017.
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Sfondrati, Francesco |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Italian cardinal and father of Pope Gregory XIV. |
| DATE OF BIRTH | October 26, 1493 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Cremona |
| DATE OF DEATH | July 31, 1550 |
| Place of death | Cremona |