Francesco Sfondrati (26 October 1493 – 31 July 1550) was a professor of law at a series of Italian universities, and held important positions as a counselor of Emperor Charles V. He married Anna Visconti, with whom he had a number of children, one of which eventually became Pope Gregory XIV.

After making provision for his children, he accepted Pope Paul III's invitation to enter the service of the Holy See.

On 23 October 1537 the emperor made him Graf of Riviera di Lecco and Freiherr of Valsassina.

- Turin, 23 April 1587), 2nd Count of Rivera di Lecco and 2nd Baron of Valassina, married to his twice cousin Sigismonda d'Este of the Lords of San Martino, by whom he had issue.

Pope Paul III then despatched Bishop Sfondrati as nuncio to Ferdinand, King of the Romans and the other princes of the Holy Roman Empire to discuss peace with the Kingdom of France and to promote the forthcoming ecumenical council.

He then served as nuncio to the Diet of Speyer (1544) to congratulate the emperor on his peace agreement with Francis I of France.

He received the red hat and the titular church of Santi Nereo e Achilleo on 2 March 1545.

In the 1549–1550 papal conclave that elected Pope Julius III, Sfondrati was aligned with the imperial faction.

[1] While his son Niccolò embarked on an ecclesiastical career, Paolo succeeded to the titles of Count of Riviera and Baron of Valassina.