COLLOREDO, Leandro di. — Cardinal, born of a noble house at Colloredo di Montalbano in Friuli in 1639. Having soon left home to pursue his spiritual and cultural formation under the guidance of a relative who was governor at Pesaro and Urbino, he never returned to his homeland. Moving to Rome, at the age of eighteen he entered the Oratory of the Chiesa Nuova, completed his studies, and, having taken holy orders in 1663, devoted himself to the sacred ministry and also served as librarian of the Vallicelliana.
His virtues commended him to Innocent XI, who employed him in various commissions and congregations and would have wished to send him as archbishop to Avignon. He was able to decline that honor in 1685; he was created cardinal on 2 September 1686, and set an example of austerity and independence, especially in his dealings with France. In 1687 he was named Major Penitentiary and assisted Innocent XI on his deathbed. On 1 January 1693 he was entrusted with the canonical visitation of the Roman clergy. In the three consecutive conclaves (those of Alexander VIII, Innocent XII, and Clement XI) he aligned himself with the zealous party. He corresponded with Mabillon. He died in Rome on 11 January 1709.