The Cardinal, therefore, was able to pursue his activities at the Papal Court (which was in exile at the time) and still collect a share of the revenues of the diocese and control over the awarding of benefices.

[4] He succeeded as Administrator of the diocese of Padua in 1555, on the resignation of his uncle, Cardinal Francesco Pisani, who had been promoted Bishop of Albano by the new Pope, Paul IV (Carafa).

He rose in the hierarchy of the Apostolic Chamber to the office of praefectus annonae, ninth in rank, dealing with the finances of the provisioning of the Papal Court and the City of Rome.

He participated in the papal conclave of 1565-66 that elected Pope Pius V.[8] He received the red hat and the titular church of San Vitale on 8 February 1566.

He served the usual one-year term, and was succeeded on 14 January 1570 by Cardinal Philibert Babou de la Bourdaisière.