GHINUCCI, GIROLAMO. — Cardinal, born in Siena to a patrician family, held various offices in the Roman Curia: he was cleric and auditor of the Apostolic Camera, prefect of the Segnatura of Briefs, and secretary to Julius II at the Lateran Council (1512). He was bishop of Ascoli Piceno (1512–18).
A man of great intellect, authority, and consummate prudence, he was entrusted with many delicate missions. Leo X assigned him the initial investigations into Luther, against whom G., assisted by Pirelias, initiated the proceedings. As apostolic nuncio to Henry VIII of England, he enjoyed the king’s trust, who granted him the bishopric of Worcester (1522–35) and appointed him his envoy to the Spanish court for three years. On 21 May 1535, he was created cardinal deacon by Paul III with the title of S. Balbina. He served as reviser of apostolic letters for the approval of the Society of Jesus; he was part of the commission tasked with drafting the bull for the opening of the Council of Trent, as well as those for the reform of the Roman Curia and the Church. He was one of the eight cardinals whom Paul III deputed to the affairs of the Council of Trent. As legate a latere (1538) to Charles V and Francis I, he served as an intermediary between the Pope and the King of France during the Truce of Nice. In 1538 he was appointed administrator of the diocese of Tropea, and in 1541, he
