VITELLI, VITELLOZZO. - Cardinal, b. at Città di Castello in 1531 to the condottiere Alessandro V. and Angela Rossa, d. at Rome on 19 Nov. 1568.
A cleric of the Camera, he was appointed bishop of Città di Castello on 20 March 1554, and on 15 March 1557 was created cardinal-deacon by Paolo IV. A friend of the cardinal-nephew Carlo Carafa, when the latter fell from favour, partly as a result of his indiscretions, he too incurred the Pope’s displeasure. In the Conclave of 1559 he played a leading part in the election of card. Gian Angelo Medici (Pio IV); camerlengo of the Holy Church on 17 Nov. 1564; prefect of the Segnatura di grazia, legate in Campania e Marittima in 1565. He held in commendam the bishopric of Imola from 7 Feb. 1560 to 24 Oct. 1561, and thereafter that of Carcassona from 1567 until his death. A lover of music, he was the protector of Pierluigi da Palestrina and other artists.