Girolamo Ghinucci

Who was Girolamo Ghinucci?

Girolamo Ghinucci was an Italian papal administrator, diplomat and Cardinal.

He was Secretary to Pope Julius II. He was Bishop of Worcester. He was bishop from 1522 to 1535 when he was deprived of the position by Henry VIII of England. In the same year he was made a Cardinal by Pope Paul III.

Previously, he had been bishop of Ascoli Piceno from 1512 to 1518. He was then papal nuncio in England, where Henry VIII retained him for a period as advisor, and ambassador to Spain.

He was involved, with Silvester Prierias, in the papal reaction to Martin Luther after 1518. He was an active participant in both the Fifth Lateran Council and the Council of Trent, and as a cardinal sat on reforming bodies.

He maintained English contacts through Richard Croke.

A prominent Latin inscription commemorating him is to be seen in the north aisle of the basilica of St.Clement in Rome.