ALEANDRO, GIROLAMO. — Cardinal, born at Motta, in Friuli, on 13 February 1480, died in Rome on 1 February 1542. He first studied in his native land, at Pordenone and Venice, and then at Padua, where he graduated in philosophy and theology. He learned Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Chaldean, and other Oriental languages. In 1500, in Venice, he became a member of the Academy of Aldo Manuzio and formed a friendship with Erasmo da Rotterdam, from whom he soon separated. In 1508, after the League of Cambrai, he went to France and lived almost always in Paris. He held a chair at the university and taught Latin, Hebrew, Chaldean, and especially Greek. Luigi XII granted him the privilege of “naturalization,” by which he was regarded and treated as a native Frenchman, and on 18 March 1513 he was named rector of the University of Paris. The following year he became counselor and secretary to Erardo de la Mark, bishop and prince of Liège, who in 1516 sent him to Rome to seek to obtain the dignity of cardinal for him. On 27 July 1519 he was appointed by Leone X librarian of the Vatican Library, and the following year he was sent as apostolic nuncio to the Emperor Carlo V, with the special task of combating the Lutheran heresy.
He reached the Emperor in Flanders and immediately obtained the execution of the bull condemning Luther’s 41 propositions and the destruction of his books. He followed Carlo V to Aachen, where he attended his coronation, and then to Cologne, at whose Academy, with the Emperor’s authority and in the presence of the leading princes of Germany, he once again debated the matter of Luther. Finally, he took part in the Diet of Worms, where, on 8 May 1521, the celebrated edict was promulgated by which Luther was judged and condemned as a heretic. Leone X and Adriano VI subsequently died; A. was made by Clemente VII archbishop of Brindisi and d'Orla, and on that very day was also appointed apostolic nuncio to Francesco I, with the special mission of securing peace between the Emperor and the King of France. During the Battle of Pavia, on 24 February 1525, he was taken prisoner, and only on 3 August of the same year was he able to return to Rome, where the following year his house was destroyed by the Colonnesi. From 1527 to 1529 he devoted himself to his diocese; in 1531 he was sent once again to Germany, to the Emperor Carlo V. He took part in the Diet of Regensburg and was one of the principal advocates of war against the Turks. From 1533 to 1535 he was sent as nuncio to Venice. He was of great assistance to Paolo III in the negotiations for the Council. On 13 March 1538 he was made cardinal with the title of S. Crisogono, and on the 20th of the same month legate to the council that was to meet at Vicenza. He was sent once again to Germany, but since no agreement with the Lutherans was possible and peace had not yet been established between Francesco I and Carlo V, the Council was postponed indefinitely, and A. returned to Rome, where he died.
A. published numerous Greek and Latin school works. There also remain unpublished treatises on theology, philosophy, and philology, writings concerning the reform of the Church, and correspondence relating to his various missions.