Pirro Gonzaga (cardinal)

Pirro Gonzaga (1505–1529) was a Roman Catholic cardinal. He was the third son of Ludovico (the son of Ludovico 'Il Turco'), who was the second Count of Rodigo with Rivalta, and Lord of Sabbioneta, Correggioverde, Pomponesco, Gazzuolo, and Belforte; and of Francesca, the daughter of Gian Luigi Fieschi, Count of Lavagna. He was a cousin of Cardinal Ercole Gonzaga.^[1][2]

His Eminence Pirro Gonzaga
Cardinal-Priest of Sant'Agata de' Goti
Church	Catholic Church
Diocese	Bishop-elect of Modena
Orders
Created cardinal	21 November 1527 by Pope Clement VII
Rank	Cardinal Deacon
Personal details
Born	1505 Mantua, Italy
Died	28 Jan 1529 (age 24)

At the age of 22, on 5 September 1527, Pirro was given the Bishopric of Modena by Pope Clement VII,^[3] while the Pope was still being held prisoner in the Castel Sant'Angelo, and was being supported by the efforts of Pirro's elder brother, Luigi Gonzaga (Ludovico "Rodomonte"). Once Pope Clement was released, Luigi conducted him from the Castel Sant'Angelo to his refuge in Orvieto.^[4]

Pirro Gonzaga was created a cardinal by Pope Clement in the Consistory of 21 November 1527, which was held in the Castel Sant'Angelo; on 27 January 1528 he was assigned as his titular church the Deaconry of S. Agata in Suburra.^[5]

He was never consecrated a bishop, being below the canonical minimum age of 27 for episcopal consecration.^[6] According to Vicente Fontana, in his Teatro Dominicano, the diocese of Modena was administered by a suffragan bishop, Vincenzo Cevola, O.P., titular Bishop of Hierapolis.^[7]

Gonzaga died on 28 January 1529, at the family estate at Sabbioneta, north-northwest of Modena.^[1]