Cardinal Giovanni Dolfin, often Italianized as Delfin or Delfino (15 December 1545 - 25 November 1622), was an Italian politician and cardinal. He was one of several cardinals from his family by this name. He is the uncle of Cardinal Giovanni Delfino (iuniore).

Biography Dolfin was born and grew up in Venice, Italy. Having obtained the degree of Doctor in utroque jure at the University of Padua, Giovanni Delfino seemed to want to embrace the ecclesiastical state, but was instead initiated into a political and diplomatic career; after having exercised some minor offices in Venice, in 1577 he was appointed podestà and captain of Belluno.

Between 1582 and 1595, he was sent as ambassador of the Republic of Venice to Poland, Spain, Germany and France. When he returned eight years later, he was appointed ambassador to the Holy See, a post he held from 1595 to 1598.Giovanni Mantese, Memorie storiche della Chiesa vicentina, IV/1, Dal 1563 al 1700, (Vicenza, Accademia Olimpica, 1974), p. 143. His report (relazione) to the Venetian Senate is printed by Eugenio Albèri, Relazioni Degli Ambasciatori Veneti Al Senato: Le Relazioni Degli Ambasciatori Veneti Al Senato : durante il Secolo decimosesto. 2, Le Relazioni d'Italia, Tom. IV, Vol. 10 (Firenze: Società editrice Fiorentina 1857), pp. 450-504. On 23 June 1598, Delfino was elected Procurator of San Marco.Albèri, p. 450. On 18 April 1599, he officially represented Venice at the wedding of Philip III of Spain and Margaret of Austria; and in 1600 at those of Henry IV of France and Marie de' Medici.

Returning to his homeland, he also occupied the post of one of the Riformatori dello studio di Padova.

In 1603, the Bishop of Vicenza was vacant, due to the death of the incumbent, Michele Priuli. Pope Clement VIII decided to assign the diocese to Delfin,Gauchat, p. 367 with note 2. to whom he was bound by ties of sympathy and mutual respect, despite the fact that Delfin was not a priest and Venetian law did not allow ecclesiastical offices to be held by persons who had resided at the court of Rome.Guglielmo Berchet, Relazioni degli stati europei lette al Senato dagli ambasciatori Veneti nel secolo decimosettimo, Venezia, 1857, Vol. I, page 56. On 27 December 1603, he was consecrated bishop by Cardinal Alfonso Visconti, Bishop of Spoleto, with Tommaso Contarini, Archbishop of Candia, and Leonardo Mocenigo, Bishop of Ceneda, serving as co-consecrators.

Delfino resigned from the diocese of Vicenza, after he became a cardinal, in favor of his brother Dionisio Delfini. The exchange was approved by Pope Paul V on 19 June 1606.Gauchat, p. 367. The death of Clement VIII on 3 March 1605, the election of Leo XI on 1 April 1605 and his death on 27 April 1605, and the election of Paul V on 16 May 1605, slowed the regular work of the curia.

Cardinalate

Bishop Giovanni Delfino was named a cardinal-priest by Pope Clement VIII on 9 June 1604. He was assigned the titular church of San Matteo in Merulana on 24 November 1604, which he exchanged for San Marco on 1 June 1605. He opted for the titular church of San Gerolamo degli Illirici on 23 June 1621, and then for San Carlo ai Catinari on 28 August 1622.Gauchat, pp. 7, no. 45; 367, note 2.

He served a term as Chamberlain (Camerlengo) of the College of Cardinals from 7 January 1619 to 13 January 1620.Gauchat, p. 58. Delfino was never Chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church, the far more important office.

He died in Venice on 25 November 1622, at the age of 77.Riccardi, p. 209. Gauchat, pp. 7, note 13.

Episcopal succession While bishop and cardinal, he was the principal consecrator of:

See also Bust of Cardinal Giovanni Dolfin

References

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