Guido Ascanio Sforza di Santa Fiora

Infobox cardinalbiog
name = Guido Ascanio Sforza di Santa Fiora


See =
Title = Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church
Period = October 22, 1537 - October 6, 1564
cardinal = Cardinal deacon of Santa Maria in Via Lata
Predecessor = Agostino Spinola
Successor = Vitellozzo Vitelli
Reason for exit=
Reason =
post = Bishop of Montefiascone
cardinal = December 18, 1534
Rank =
date of birth = Birth date|1518|11|26|mf=y
place of birth = Rome, Italy
date of death = Death date and age|1564|10|6|1518|11|26
place of death = Mantua, Italy

Guido Ascanio Sforza di Santa Fiora (1518, November 26, Rome — 1564, October 6, Mantua) was an Italian cardinal, known also as "The cardinal of Santa Fiora". Son of Costanza Farnese and therefore grand son of Pope Paul III, brother of cardinal Alessandro Sforza (1565), uncle of cardinal Francesco Sforza and great-uncle of cardinal Federico Sforza (1645). During his cardinalate he served as legate or administrator of different towns and sees.

His ecclesiastical career started very early. He was elected bishop of "Montefiascone e Corneto", nowadays Diocese of Viterbo, Acquapendente, Bagnoregio, Montefiascone, Tuscania e San Martino al Monte Cimino on November 12, 1528. He resigned on June 4, 1548.

Created cardinal deacon in the consistory of December 18, 1534 by Pope Paul III with the deaconry of Santi Vito, Modesto e Crescenzia. Later he was appointed Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church on October 22, 1537 till his death. Opted for the deaconry of Santa Maria in Cosmedin on May 31, 1540. Opted for the deaconry of Sant'Eustachio on December 10, 1540. On March 9, 1552 he was opted for the deaconry of Santa Maria in Via Lata. He participated in the Papal conclave, April 1555 and in the following Papal conclave, May 1555. In the same year he was accused in conspiracy in favor of Spain and briefly incarcerated. He took part in the Papal conclave, 1559.

Cardinal di Santa Fiora died on October 6, 1564 of fever in Mantua. His body was transfered to Rome and buried in his family's chapel in the patriarchal Liberian basilica.

ources

* [http://www.fiu.edu/~mirandas/bios1534.htm#Sforza Tha Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church - Biographical dictionary]
* [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bsforza.html Catholic Hierarchy data for this cardinal]

[Category:Bishops of Montefiascone]