Francesco Sfondrati

Francesco Sfondrati (1493–1550) was an Italian Roman Catholic bishop and cardinal and the father of Pope Gregory XIV.

Francesco Sfondrati was born in Cremona on 26 October 1493, the son of Cremonan patricians Giovanni Battista Sfrondati and Margherita Homodeo.

Sfondrati studied Ancient Greek and Latin as a young man and then received a doctorate of law from the University of Pavia. In 1518, he became a professor of public law at the University of Padua. He would later work as a professor at the University of Pavia, the University of Bologna, the Sapienza University of Rome, and the University of Turin. He was a counselor of Charles III, Duke of Savoy and a member of the senate of Turin. In 1527 and 1528, he was Podestà of Pavia. He was later a counselor of Francesco II Sforza, joining the senate of Milan in 1530.

Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor then named Sfondrati to the Aulic Council. He was also Charles V's ambassador to the Duke of Savoy. On 23 October 1537 the emperor made him Graf of Riviera di Lecco. He also served as governor of Siena.