[1] Francesco Maria Neri was born in Tivoli, Italy on 6 February 1628 and ordained a priest on 31 December 1654.
[2] He held the degree of Doctor in utroque iure, and was the fiscal advocate of the Holy Office (Inquisition) in the Kingdom of Naples (1667).
[3] On 16 May 1672, he was appointed Bishop of Massa Lubrense by Pope Clement X.
[3][2][4] On 22 May 1672, he was consecrated bishop by Federico Borromeo (iuniore), Cardinal-Priest of Sant'Agostino, with Bernardino Rocci, Titular Archbishop of Damascus, and Domenico Gianuzzi, Titular Bishop of Dioclea in Phrygia, serving as co-consecrators.
[2] On 10 January 1678, he was appointed by Pope Innocent XI as Bishop of Venosa.