Federico Cesi (cardinal)

Federico Cesi was born in Rome on July 2, 1500, the son of Roman noble Angelo Cesi of the House of Cesi and his wife Francesca Cardoli.[1] He was the younger brother of Cardinal Paolo Emilio Cesi.[1]

He studied law at the University of Rome and then practiced law in Rome.[1] He later left legal practice to become a priest.[1]

On June 12, 1523, he was elected Bishop of Todi, with dispensation for not having reached the canonical age.[1] He was consecrated as a bishop in Rome on July 25, 1524 by Paris de Grassis, Bishop of Pesaro.[1] He soon became a member of the Apostolic Camera.[1]

Pope Paul III made him a cardinal priest in the consistory of December 19, 1544.[1] He received the red hat and the titular church of San Pancrazio on July 9, 1545.[1] He resigned the government of the Diocese of Todi on March 11, 1545.[1] From November 9, 1549 to February 12, 1552, he was the administrator of the Diocese of Caserta.[1]

He participated in the papal conclave of 1549-50 that elected Pope Julius III.[1] He opted for the titular church of Santa Prisca on February 28, 1550.[1]

From July 15, 1550 to March 14, 1551, he was the administrator of the Diocese of Vulturaria e Montecorvino.[1] He then administered the Diocese of Cremona from March 18, 1551 until March 13, 1560.[1] He also served as Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals from January 7, 1555 to January 10, 1556.[1]

He was a participant in both the papal conclave of April 1555 that elected Pope Marcellus II and the papal conclave of May 1555 that elected Pope Paul IV.[1]

On September 20, 1557, he opted for the order of cardinal bishops, receiving the suburbicarian see of Palestrina.[1]

He then participated in the papal conclave of 1559 that elected Pope Pius IV.[1]

He opted for the suburbicarian see of Frascati on May 18, 1562, and then for the suburbicarian see of Porto e Santa Rufina on May 12, 1564.[1] During this period he was Vice-Dean of the College of Cardinals.[1]

Cardinal Cesi was friends with Charles Borromeo, Ignatius of Loyola, and Philip Neri.[1]

Cardinal Cesi died in Rome on January 28, 1565.[1] Following a funeral at Santa Caterina dei Funari, he was buried in the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore.[1]