Paolo Emilio Sfondrati (1560 – 14 February 1618) was an Italian cardinal.
Occupation
diplomat, Catholic priest, Catholic bishop, art collector
Position held
cardinal, Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals, cardinal-bishop, diocesan bishop
Born
September 13, 1560
Died
February 14, 1618
Overview
Paolo Emilio Sfondrati (1560 – 14 February 1618) was an Italian cardinal.
Biography
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.
He was bishop of Cremona, and bishop of Albano. Pope Clement VIII made him an Inquisitor in 1600.
He died in Tivoli in 1618.
Episcopal succession
