POGGIO, GIOVANNI. - Cardinal, born in Bologna on 21 January 1493 to Cristoforo, secretary to Giovanni II Bentivoglio, and Francesca Quistelli. He was in Spain as a guitar player; he married Lodovica Bibieni and had children by her. Upon her death (1528), he entered the Curia, became treasurer of the Camera, and was sent to Spain as collector of the spoils, where he remained as nuncio (1535) to Carlo V, whom he subsequently accompanied on his journeys in Germany. He took a considerable part in the negotiations with the Protestants at Worms, Ratisbona (1540–42), and Bonn in 1544, and in the negotiations for the Council.
Meanwhile, he had been appointed bishop of Tropea on 4 October 1541 (he resigned the see in February 1556). Created cardinal by Giulio III on 20 November 1551, he remained legate in Spain until October 1554. He died on 12 February 1556 in Bologna, where he had had a palace built and a chapel erected in the church of S. Giacomo. He had donated to Giulio III the vineyard he had established outside Porta del Popolo and adorned with paintings by Tibaldi. In Spain he greatly favored the Jesuits.