Federico Baldeschi Colonna

Federico Ubaldo Baldeschi Colonna (2 September 1625 – 4 October 1691) was an Italian Catholic Cardinal who was adopted by the noble Colonna family.

He was born 2 September 1624 as Federico Ubaldo Baldeschi in Perugia, the son of Jacopo Baldeschi and Artemisia della Concia. The history of his education is unclear but he was called to Rome as a young man to assist Cardinal Giovanni Giacomo Panciroli. With Panciroli's patronage he was appointed Governor first of Faenza, then of Sabina and then finally of Fabriano. Soon after he was appointed referendary of the Tribunals of the Apostolic Signature of Justice and of Grace.

In 1665, at the age of 40, Baldeschi was elected Archbishop of Caesarea and only days later he was appointed Nuncio in Switzerland, a position he held until 1668. In 1668 he was appointed secretary of the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda Fide. In early 1673 he was appointed an assessor of the Roman Inquisition.

In 1673 Baldeschi was elevated to Cardinal by Pope Clement X in pectore and his elevation was published the following year, in 1674. The year after, he was appointed cardinal-priest of the church of San Marcello al Corso. Upon his elevation to the cardinalate, he was adopted by Sciarra Colonna di Carbognano and began using his adopted name; that of the Colonna family.

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