Alessandro Bichi

Alessandro Bichi (1596 - 25 May 1657) was an Italian Catholic Cardinal and papal nuncio to France.

Biography

Bichi was born in Siena in 1596, the son of Vincenzo Bichi and nephew of Cardinal Metello Bichi. At an early age he became Lieutenant of the Auditor of the Apostolic Chamber during the pontificate of Pope Urban VIII and was then appointed Referendary of the Tribunals of the Apostolic Signatura of Justice and of Grace.

Bichi was elected Bishop of Isola in 1628 and sent to Naples and papal nuncio later that same year. In 1630 he became nuncio to France and was appointed Bishop of Carpentras. He was elevated to Cardinal in 1633 and was made Cardinal-Priest of Santa Sabina

Conclave of 1644

In 1644, Pope Urban VIII died and the College of Cardinals came together in conclave to elected a new Pope. As nuncio to France, Bichi naturally sided with the Cardinals of the French delegation led by Antonio Barberini.

When Pope Innocent X was elected, a furious Bichi, who was already at odds with Innocent's powerful sister-in-law Olimpia Maidalchini, was said to have exclaimed, "We have just elected a female pope". Supporters of Bichi and the French delegation hung banners in churches calling her "Pope Olimpia I".

Later life

Bichi participated in the conclave of 1655 which elected Pope Alexander VII. He died on 25 May 1657 in Rome.