Simone Pasqua

Early in his ecclesiastical career, he was a cleric in Genoa.^[2] The pope made him papal ambassador to the Republic of Genoa.^[2] The pope then despatched him as the pope's ambassador to congratulate Philip II of Spain on his marriage to Mary I of England.^[2] Pope Pius IV, who had known Pasqua since childhood, made Pasqua the pope's personal physician.^[2]

On 14 February 1561 he was elected to be Bishop of Luni-Sarzana and he was subsequently consecrated as a bishop.^[2] He attended the Council of Trent 1562–63, having arrived in Trento on 1 December 1561.^[3]

Pope Pius IV made him a cardinal priest in the consistory of 12 March 1565.^[2] He received the red hat and the titular church of Santa Sabina on 15 May 1565^[2] On 4 September 1565 he opted for the titular church of San Pancrazio.^[2]

He died in the Apostolic Palace on 4 September 1565. He was buried in San Pancrazio; his remains were later transferred to Santa Maria della Pace.^[1]