Pirro Gonzaga (1505–1529) was a
Roman Catholic
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
*Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...
cardinal. He was the third son of Ludovico (son of Ludovico "Il Turco"), second Conte di Rodigo con Rivalta, Signore di Sabbioneta, Correggioverde, Pomponesco, Gazzuolo and Belforte; and Francesca, daughter of Gian Luigi Fieschi, Conte di Lavagna. He was a cousin of Cardinal Ercole Gonzaga.
[ ]
At the age of 22, on 5 September 1527, Pirro was given the
Bishopric of Modena by Pope Clement VII, while the Pope was still being held prisoner in the Castel S. Angelo, and was being supported by the efforts of Pirro's elder brother, Luigi Gonzaga (Ludovico "Rodomonte"). Once Pope Clement was released, Luigi conducted him from the Castel S. Angelo to his refuge in Orvieto.
Pirro Gonzaga was created a cardinal by
Pope Clement VII
Pope Clement VII ( la, Clemens VII; it, Clemente VII; born Giulio de' Medici; 26 May 1478 – 25 September 1534) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 19 November 1523 to his death on 25 September 1534. Deemed "the ...
in the Consistory of 21 November 1527, which was held in the Castel S. Angelo; on 27 January 1528 he was assigned as his
titular church
In the Catholic Church, a titular church is a church in Rome that is assigned to a member of the clergy who is created a cardinal. These are Catholic churches in the city, within the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Rome, that serve as honorary de ...
the
Deaconry of S. Agata in Suburra.
He was never consecrated a bishop, being below the canonical minimum age of 27 for consecration as a bishop. According to Vicente Fontana, in his ''Teatro Dominicano'', the diocese of Modena was administered by a suffragan bishop, Vincenzo Cevola, O.P., titular Bishop of Hierapolis.
[Fontana, p. 142. Cardella, p. 99.]
Gonzaga died on 28 January 1529, at the family estate at Sabbioneta, north-northwest of Modena.
References
Sources
*
*
*
1505 births
1529 deaths
16th-century Italian cardinals
16th-century Italian Roman Catholic bishops
{{Italy-RC-cardinal-stub