Giovanni Poggio (also written Poggi) (21 January 1493 – 12 February 1556) was an Italian Roman Catholic bishop and cardinal.

[5] As was normal at the time, Poggio accepted loans from the Olivieri banking house, leading financiers of the city.

[6] At the request of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, Pope Julius III made Poggio a Cardinal Priest in the consistory of 20 November 1551.

[2] In January 1552 he successfully defended the Jesuits against attempts by Archbishop Juan Martínez y Siliceo of Toledo to suppress that Order.

[8] Poggio resigned the government of his see in favor of his nephew Giovanni Matteo di Lucchi, Bishop of Ancona on 6 February 1556.

[12] In 1714 the Palazzo Poggi, the Cardinal's private residence, became the House of the Instituto dell Scienze, and it is still one of the main buildings of the University of Bologna.