Francesco Crasso (1500–1566) was an Italian Roman Catholic cardinal.
Francesco Crasso was born in Milan in 1500, the son of Pietro Antonio Crasso, a Milanese noble related to the signoria of Zibido San Giacomo and Lambro. [1] He was from a Neapolitan patrician family. [1] He was educated in Milan, becoming a doctor of both laws. [1]
On December 28, 1535, he became a member of the Senate of Milan. [1] He became president of the Magistrato delle entrate in 1548. [1] He was a counselor of Philip II of Spain, who held the title of Duke of Milan. [1] He became governor of Siena and Cremona. [1] He was the ambassador of the Duchy of Milan to Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. Crasso was married and had several children. [1]
After the death of his wife, he moved to Rome, where his good friend Pope Pius IV made him a protonotary apostolic participantium. [1] He also became a referendary of the Apostolic Signatura. [1] On January 5, 1565, the pope named him governor of Bologna. [1]
Upon the suggestion of Charles Borromeo, Pope Pius IV made Crasso a cardinal deacon in the consistory of March 12, 1565. [1] On October 26, 1565, he opted for the order of cardinal priests. [1] He participated in the papal conclave of 1565-66 that elected Pope Pius V. [1] He received the red hat and the titular church of Santa Lucia in Septisolio (a deaconry raised to the status of title pro illa vice) on February 8, 1566. [1] On March 6, 1566, he opted for the titular church of Sant'Euphemia. [1]
He died in Rome on August 29, 1566. [1] He was buried in the Franciscan church of Santa Maria della Pace in Milan. [1]