BONELLI, MICHELE

BONELLI, MICHELE. — Cardinal, born at Bosco in the diocese of Tortona on 25 December 1541, died in Rome on 29 March 1598. On his mother’s side, he was the nephew of Pius V. Rome, then, after entering the Dominican Order, at the University of Perugia. On 6 March 1566, Pius V created him cardinal of the title of S. Maria sopra Minerva and entrusted him with the administration of the Papal States. In 1568 he was appointed camerlengo, but shortly thereafter resigned this office. In 1571 he became abbot of S. Michele della Chiusa and prior of the Order of Malta in Rome. On 19 June of the same year he was appointed legate to Spain, Portugal, and France. He held numerous offices under Gregory XIII, including the protectorate of the kingdom of Hungary and the duchy of Savoy. On 1 May 1585, Sixtus V elected him vicar general of Rome and the Papal States, with authority to carry out reforms among the clergy, and in 1587 bishop of Albano. He was buried in S. Maria sopra Minerva, where Cardinal Pietro Aldobrandini had a sumptuous mausoleum erected for him. He wrote accounts of his legations.