Lorenzo Pucci

His Eminence Lorenzo Pucci
Cardinal Lorenzo Pucci byParmigianino, c. 1529–30 (National Gallery)
Church	Santi Quattro Coronati
Diocese	Pistoia,Melfi,Vannes,Amalfi,Montefiascone,Capaccio
Other post(s)	Major Penitentiary, protector of the Poles
Orders
Created cardinal	23 September 1513
Personal details
Born	Lorenzo Pucci 18 August 1458 Florence
Died	16 September 1531 Rome
Nationality	Italian
Occupation	Law professor
Coat of arms

Lorenzo Pucci(18 August 1458 – 16 September 1531) was an Italian cardinal and bishop from theFlorentinePucci family. His brotherRoberto Pucciand his nephewAntonio Puccialso became cardinals.

Biography

Pucci was born inFlorence.

He began his career as a professor of law at theStudio di Pisa.On becoming a clergyman, he was electedBishop-Coadjutor of Pistoiain 1509, assuming the diocese in September 1518but resigning it that November in favour of his nephewAntonio Pucci.He was also bishop-administrator of thediocese of Melfifrom 1513 to 1528 and participated in theFifth Lateran Council.

Pope Leo Xmade him a cardinal in the 23 September 1513 consistory (with the titulus ofSanti Quattro Coronati) and chose him as his personal secretary, in which role he was sent on several ambassadorial missions, especially to Florence, where the pope wantedgonfaloniere-for-lifePiero Soderinito retire from office. On 10 August 1521, Leo made Pucci the Commendatore of the monastery ofSan Giovanni in Fiore.He also served as administrator of theDiocese of Vannes(1513–1514), of the Archdiocese of Amalfi (in 1516 – 1519), the Diocese of Montefiascone (March – April 1519) and the Diocese of Capaccio (September 1522 – June 1523). From 1514 he was the Holy See's protector of the Poles and from 1520 to 1529Major Penitentiary.He was a patron of the arts, notably ofMichelangeloandRaphael,whilst in 1520 he also became the dedicatee ofErasmus' edition of theWorks of St. Cyprian.

Underpope Adrian VI,Pucci was accused of fraud in connection with the sale of indulgences, but he escaped punishment thanks to the intercession of Cardinal Giulio Medici, who after his election to the papacy in 1523 asPope Clement VIIcleared Pucci of all charges. In 1526 Clement entered on theWar of the League of CognacagainstCharles V,in which Clement was defeated and captured andRome sacked.Upon the post-war rapprochement which Clement and Charles soon reached, Pucci was one of the keenest advocates of quickly reconquering Florence from Republican rebels. He then served as Cardinal-Bishop of Albano (1524) andPalestrina(1524–1531).

He died in Rome on 16 September 1531, shortly after thesiege of Florencewhich definitively restored the Medici to power in Florence.

Bibliography

• Gregorovius, Ferdinand (1904).Lucretia Borgia, according to original documents and correspondence of her day(third ed.). New York: Appleton. pp. 65–70.