Francesco Barberini (1662–1738)


Francesco Barberini, iuniore was an Italian Cardinal of the family of Pope Urban VIII and of the Princes of Palestrina.

Biography

He was born in Rome, the eldest son of Maffeo Barberini and Olimpia Giustiniani, the nephew of cardinal Carlo Barberini and the grandson of Taddeo Barberini. He gave up his birthright for an ecclesiastic career thereby making his brother, Urbano Barberini, heir to the Barberini estate.
He was created by Pope Alexander VIII on 13 November 1690 with the dispensation of having a cousin and uncle in the Sacred College and for not having yet received the minor orders.
He was ordained deacon only in 1700 and priest in 1715. He participated in the five papal conclaves. Abbot of Farfa and Subiaco from 1704. On 3 Mar 1721, he was named Cardinal-Bishop of Palestrina and on 16 Mar 1721, he was consecrated bishop by Fabrizio Paolucci, Cardinal-Bishop of Albano, with Vincenzo Petra, Titular Archbishop of Damascus, and Bernardo Maria Conti, Bishop Emeritus of Terracina, Priverno e Sezze, serving as co-consecrators. On 1 July 1726 he was appointed Cardinal-Bishop of Ostia e Velletri. He became dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals in December 1734.
He died at his Roman palace, at the age of 75.