Paolo Emilio Sfondrati

"Madonna del Velo" with Cardinal Paolo Emilio Sfondrati, c. 1591 (Wilanów Palace in Warsaw).

Paolo Emilio Sfondrati (1560 – 14 February 1618) was an Italian cardinal.

Biography

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Born to a noble family in Milan and the nephew of Pope Gregory XIV, he was the cardinal priest of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere, papal legate in Bologna, member of the Congregation of the Sant'Offizio and a good friend of San Filippo Neri. His sister, Paola Antonia was prioress of the Angelic Sisters of Saint Paul. In 1599 Sfondrati undertook excavations in his titular church that led to the discovery of a body that he believed to be that of Saint Cecilia herself.[1]

He was bishop of Cremona, and bishop of Albano. Pope Clement VIII made him an Inquisitor in 1600.[2] He died in Tivoli in 1618.

Episcopal succession

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Notes

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  1. ^ John A. Rice, Saint Cecilia in the Renaissance: The Emergence of a Musical Icon (Chicago, 2022), 181–89
  2. ^ The Trial of Galileo, 1612-1633. Edited by Thomas F. Mayer. Toronto (2012)
  3. ^ Cheney, David M. "Paolo Emilio Cardinal Sfondrati". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. Retrieved June 16, 2018. [self-published]
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Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Cardinal-Priest of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere
1591–1611
Succeeded by
Preceded by Bishop of Cremona
1607–1618
Succeeded by
Preceded by Cardinal-Bishop of Albano
1611–1618
Succeeded by