Borgia, Gaspare

BORGIA, GASPARE. - Cardinal, b. at Villalpando on 26 June 1580, d. at Madrid on 28 Dec. 1635. He was the son of Francesco B., duke of Gandia, and of Giovanna di Velasco. Having earned a doctorate in theology at the University of Alcalá de Henares, he became a canon and then archdeacon of the cathedral of Toledo. On 17 Aug. 1611 he was created a cardinal of the title of St. Susanna by Paul V, later changed to that of St. Croce in Gerusalemme. He came to Rome as extraordinary ambassador of Spain to the Holy See, was afterward ordinary ambassador of Philip IV, and took part in the conclaves of Gregory XV and Urban VIII. In 1626 he was appointed by Philip IV viceroy of Naples to succeed the famous duke of Osuna and, two years later, councillor of State. Already bishop of Albano, he obtained in 1632 the archbishopric of Seville, but took possession of his diocese only in 1638, following Urban VIII's bull on the residence of bishops. In that same year he was elected president of the Council of Aragon. In 1641 he had a provincial synod convened at Albano through his vicar general. On 15 March 1645 he was appointed bishop of Toledo by Innocent X. He was very generous toward the poor and both gave and collected money for the war against the Turks.

Emma Santovito