Giovanni Stefano Ferrero

Giovanni Stefano Ferrero was born in Biella on May 5, 1474, the son of Sebastiano Ferrero and Tomena Avogadro.[1] The Ferrero family was allied with the Acciaioli family, one of the most prominent families in the Republic of Florence.[1] Gianstefano Ferrero's younger brother Bonifacio Ferrero also became a cardinal.[1]

Ferrero studied canon law at the University of Padua.[1] He then moved to Rome and became an Auditor of the Roman Rota.[1] He next became a protonotary apostolic.[1]

At the insistence of Blanche of Montferrat (regent for her son Charles II, Duke of Savoy), Ferrero was named coadjutor bishop of Vercelli on April 24, 1493.[1] He succeeded as Bishop of Vercelli on July 16, 1499, occupying the see until January 21, 1502.[1] He occupied the see again from October 31, 1503 until November 5, 1509, when he exchanged it with his brother Bonifacio Ferrero.[1]

Pope Alexander VI made him a cardinal priest in pectore in the consistory of September 28, 1500.[1] He was transferred to the see of Bologna on January 24, 1502; he occupied this see until his death.[1] His creation as cardinal was published on June 28, 1502 and the same day he received the red hat and the titular church of San Vitale.[1]

He participated in both the papal conclave of September 1503 that elected Pope Pius III and the papal conclave of October 1503 that elected Pope Julius II.[1]

On December 22, 1505, he exchanged his titulus for Santi Sergio e Bacco, a deaconry raised pro illa vice to the status of titulus.[1]

He was Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals from January 1506 until 1507.[1]

On November 5, 1509, he exchanged his bishopric with his brother Bonifacio, becoming apostolic administrator of the see of Ivrea; he subsequently occupied this see until his death.[1]

He died in Rome on October 5, 1510.[1] He was initially buried in the Basilica di San Clemente.[1] His remains were later transferred to Biella and buried in the church of San Sebastiano, a church of the Canons Regular of the Lateran.[1]