CAVALCHINI (GUIDOBONI), CARLO ALBERTO. - Cardinal, b. at Tortona on 26 July 1683, d. at Rome on 7 March 1774. After taking a degree in law, he was admitted to the College of Judges and Doctors at Milan. In 1716 Clement XI appointed him consistorial advocate; in 1725 Benedict XIII made him a voting member of the Signatura. Benedict XIV created him cardinal of S. Maria della Pace on 9 Sept. 1743 and subsequently prefect of the S. Congregation of Bishops and Regulars. His opinion on the beatification of Card. Roberto Bellarmino, for whose cause he was ponente, remained famous (Relatio C. A. C. ponentis in causa beatif. Rob. card. Bellarmino, Rome 1753).
France publicly exercised its exclusion against his election to the papacy in the Conclave of 1758, because he was considered one of the cardinals favourable to the Society of Jesus. This favour, however, must later have cooled, as would seem to be inferred from the fact that he promoted the beatification of Palafox and did not show himself opposed to the suppression of the Society. In the Conclave of 1769 his possible election was discussed; he assented to the election of Ganganelli. Bishop of Albano from 12 Feb. 1759, he became bishop of Ostia and dean on 16 May 1763. He was buried at SS. Apostoli.