Alfonso Litta
A Milanese nobleman who wielded both spiritual and political power as the Cardinal Archbishop guiding his city through the turbulent 17th century.
1608–1679 (age 71)·Cardinal Archbishop of Milan·Birthday: September 19
Biography
Alfonso Litta stepped into one of the Catholic Church's most prestigious roles during an era where faith and power were tightly interwoven. Born into Italian nobility in 1608, his path was set for high office. As Cardinal Archbishop of Milan from 1652 until his death in 1679, he presided over a major archdiocese for 27 years. His tenure spanned a period of post-plague recovery and continued religious reform. Litta's leadership was not merely spiritual; it was deeply administrative and political, managing the vast temporal interests of the Church in Lombardy and navigating the complex relationship between papal authority and local secular power.
#1 When Alfonso Was Born
The biggest hits of 1608
Alfonso's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1608Born
1613Started school
1621Became a teenager
1624Could drive
1626Could vote
1629Turned 21
1638Turned 30
1648Turned 40
1658Turned 50
1668Turned 60
1678Turned 70
1679Died at 71
Key Achievements
- Served as the Cardinal Archbishop of Milan, a leading European archdiocese, for 27 years.
- Played a key administrative role in the Catholic Church's governance in Northern Italy during the 17th century.
- Was elevated to the rank of Cardinal, participating in the papal conclaves and church politics of his time.
Did You Know?
He was a relative of another prominent Milanese cardinal, Lorenzo Litta.
His lengthy episcopate covered the reigns of multiple popes, from Innocent X to Innocent XI.
Before becoming Archbishop, he served as the Bishop of Cremona for a brief period.
“The shepherd must tend his flock, but also guard the gate of the fold.”
