CONTARELLI, MATTEO. - Cardinal, b. in 1519 at Morannes (Maine-et-Loire). He studied at Bologna, where he became acquainted with Ugo Boncompagni (later Pope Gregorio XIII), who, having moved to Rome, proposed him to Pope Pio IV as companion, in the capacity of datary, to Card. Ippolito d'Este, legate in France. On his return, he followed the Cardinal Alessandrino, Michele Bonelli, nephew of s. Pio V, who was going as legate to the courts of Europe for the league against the Turk.
At the time of his election, Gregorio XIII took C. as his datary, who, as a contemporary wrote, «è di molta reputazione e si è andato avanzando sempre nella grazia di Nostro Signore» (Pastor, IX, 873); indeed, his integrity and ability were always appreciated, but the Pope created him cardinal only on 13 Dec. 1583.
He d. in Rome on 29 Sept. 1585 and was buried in the church of S. Luigi dei Francesi, whose façade he had had built.