CARACCIOLO, Marino, cardinal. — Born in Naples in 1468, he spent his early years in Milan with Cardinal Ascanio Sforza, whom he followed to Germany in 1499 and to France, where he remained until 1503. In 1515 he was sent by the Duke of Milan as an orator to the Lateran Council. Pope Leo X, who appreciated his diplomatic skills, appointed him Apostolic protonotary and in 1518 sent him as legate of the Holy See to Charles V; in this capacity he took part in the Diet of Augsburg. He intervened at the Diet of Worms in 1521, where Luther was placed under imperial ban.
He took an active part in the negotiations that led to the conclusion of the league against Francis I. In 1524 he was elected Bishop of Catania, and Paul III created him cardinal on 21 May 1535. The following year Charles V appointed him first Grand Chancellor and then governor of the Duchy of Milan for political and civil affairs. He died in Milan on 28 January 1538.