He studied in the college of Brera in Milan and later he was admitted at the Collegio Borromeo in Pavia and graduated in law at the University of Bologna.

Entered in the administration of the Papal States, he served as governor of Tivoli, Città di Castello and Montalto.

[1] On 1 September of the same year he was appointed Cardinal Priest of Santi Bonifacio e Alessio,[4] and he made his solemn entrance in Milan as Archbishop on next 11 January 1682.

Following the example of Saint Charles Borromeo, he visited, from 1682 to 1689, all the 67 pieves which composed the large diocese,[5] and in September 1687 he celebrated the 37th diocesan synod.

Federico Visconti maintained good relations with the Spanish government (who ruled the Duchy of Milan), and with this aim he waived the right of asylum in the churches for the deserters, and he asked the population to support with offerings the Battle of Vienna against the Ottoman Empire.