ALDROVANDI, POMPEO

ALDROVANDI, Pompeo. – Cardinal, born in Bologna on 23 Sept. 1668, died at Montefiascone on 16 Jan. 1732. He came to Rome in 1696 and was appointed auditor of the Rota in 1706 and, in 1712, nuncio to Philip V. Pope, Aldrovandi was recalled to Rome, but sent back to Spain the following year, in 1717. As relations grew increasingly tense, he returned to Italy without being recalled and was exiled by the Pope to Bologna. He regained his former position as auditor of the Rota and was also appointed regent of the Penitentiary under Innocent XIII. He was made counsellor of the Holy Office and, in 1729, Patriarch of Jerusalem by Benedict XIII. In 1733, under Clement XII, he was appointed governor of Rome. On 24 March 1734 he was created cardinal with the title of S. Eusebio. In the same year he also became bishop of Montefiascone and Corneto. In the conclave of 1740 he was a candidate for the tiara and missed election by only a few votes. He was buried in the church of S. Petronio in Bologna.