Francesco Bertazzoli

Francesco Bertazzoli (1 May 1754 – 7 April 1830) was an Italian prelate of the Catholic Church who was a longtime confidant of Pope Pius VII, who made him a cardinal in 1823.

He was appointed Lugo's vicar for external relations, which initiated his relationship with Barnaba Chiaramonti, then bishop of Imola and later Pope Pius VII, that would last his whole life.

[2] In 1799 Bertazzoli provided funds to allow Barnaba Chiaramonti, who had exhausted his financial resources in aiding priests fleeing the French Revolution, to participate in the conclave of Venice.

Pope Pius appointed Bertazzoli papal almoner on 24 May 1802 and a titular archbishop, and later made him a canon of Santa Maria Maggiore.

Certain opponents succeeded in blocking his elevation to cardinal for years, though Pope Pius later said it had been his intention from the moment he was elected.