POGGIO, GIOVANNI. - Cardinal, born in Bologna on 21 January 1493 to Cristoforo, secretary to Giovanni II Bentivoglio, and Francesca Quistelli. He went to Spain as a guitar player; he married Lodovica Bibieni and had children by her. After her death (1528) he entered the Curia, became treasurer of the Apostolic Chamber, and was sent as collector of ecclesiastical revenues to Spain, where he remained as nuncio (1535) to Charles V, whom he later accompanied on his travels in Germany. He played a significant role in the negotiations with the Protestants at Worms, Regensburg (1540–42), and at Bonn in 1544, as well as in the arrangements for the Council.
Meanwhile, he had been appointed Bishop of Tropea on 4 October 1541 (he resigned in February 1556). Created cardinal by Julius III on 20 November 1551, he remained as legate in Spain until October 1554. He died on 12 February 1556 in Bologna, where he had built a palace and a chapel in the church of S. Giacomo. He had donated to Julius III the vineyard he had constructed outside Porta del Popolo, adorned with paintings by Tibaldi. In Spain he greatly favoured the Jesuits.