Gianpaolo Della Chiesa (1521–1575) was an Italian Roman Catholic bishop and cardinal.
Gianpaolo Della Chiesa was born in Tortona in 1521.[1] He was a relative of Pope Pius V.[1] He was educated at the University of Padua and the University of Pavia, becoming a doctor of both laws.[1]
He then moved to Milan to practice law.[1] There, he gained a reputation as a renowned lawyer.[1] He later traveled to Spain, where he defended Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba, 3rd Duke of Terranova in his trial before Philip II of Spain.[1] The king was so impressed with Della Chiesa that he made him a senator of Milan and governor of Pavia for two years.[1]
After the death of his wife, he was sent to Rome by the Senate of Milan to attempt to settle its dispute with Cardinal Charles Borromeo.[1] He gained the appreciation of the pope who made him commendatory abbot of S. Pietro di Muleggio.[1] He also became a Referendary of the Apostolic Signatura.[1]
When Pope Pius V became pope, he initially offered to make Serafino Della Chiesa (Gianpaolo Della Chiesa's uncle and a member of the Canons Regular of the Lateran) his cardinal-nephew, but Serafino refused so Gianpaolo was promoted in his stead.[1] He became a cardinal deacon in the consistory of 24 March 1568.[1] He received the red hat and the deaconry of San Callisto on 5 April 1568.[1]
On 3 May 1568 he was appointed Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, a post he held until his death.[1] He was one of six cardinals appointed by the pope to investigate the case of Cardinal Innocenzo Ciocchi Del Monte.[1] He opted for the order of cardinal priests on 10 May 1570 and for the titular church of San Pancrazio on 14 May 1570.[1] He also served as a member of the Congregation for the League against the Turks and the Congregation of the Census.[1]
He participated in the papal conclave of 1572 that elected Pope Gregory XIII.[1]
He died in Rome on 11 January 1575 and was buried in his titular church.[1]
