Francesco Argentino
Francesco Argentino (died 1511) was an Italian Roman Catholic bishop and cardinal.
Biography
Francesco Argentino was born in Venice ca. 1450.[1] His father was a poor man from Strasbourg (he took the surname "Argentino" because in Latin, "Strasbourg" is Argentinensis) and a Venetian woman.[1] Giovanni Mocenigo, Doge of Venice, arranged for Argentino to study at the University of Padua, where the young man obtained a doctorate in law.[1]
After completing his degree, he returned to Venice to practice law.[1] Cardinal Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici (the future Pope Leo X) was exiled in Venice at that time, allowing Argentino to meet him.[1] Thanks to the cardinal, he obtained a canonicate in the cathedral chapter of St Mark's Basilica.[1] In 1494, he became the pastor of Salzano.[1]
He then traveled to Rome, where he gained the confidence of Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere (the future Pope Julius II).[1] On August 24, 1506, he was elected Bishop of Concordia; he occupied that see until his death.[1] When he became pope, Julius II made Bishop Argentino an Apostolic Dataria.[1]
Pope Julius II made him a cardinal priest in the consistory of March 10, 1511.[1] He received the red hat on March 13, 1511, and the titular church of the Basilica di San Clemente on March 17, 1511.[1]
He died in Rome on August 23, 1511.[1] He was buried in Concordia Cathedral.[1]