In Rome he succeeded to enter in the service of Olimpia Maidalchini, the powerful sister-in-law of reigning Pope Innocent X.
On 14 July 1665 he was appointed, succeeding Domenico Salvetti, prefect of the Vatican Secret Archives,[2] an office that he never actually practiced.
[4][5] During the 1667 papal conclave Ravizza schemed in favour of cardinal Angelo Celsi and during the 1669-70 papal conclave he played a hidden, but key role in supporting the Spanish faction, being however stopped by cardinal Jean François Paul de Gondi.
[7] He reached Lisboa on 4 May 1671 after had passed in Paris to obtain the support of France in negotiating with the prince-regent Peter II of Portugal.
[3] A short book ascribed to the anti-Catholic Gregorio Leti describes Ravizza as a man full of plots and tricks.