His sister was married to Pope Paul V's brother and his nephew was Ippolito Lante Montefeltro della Rovere who became Duke of Bomarzo As a young man he was named cleric and then auditor-general of the Apostolic Chamber of Pope Clement VIII.

He was elevated to Cardinal on 11 September 1606 and installed as Cardinal-Priest at the church of Santi Quirico e Giulitta.

On 14 Jan 1607, he was consecrated bishop by Pope Paul V with Ottavio Paravicini, Cardinal-Priest of Sant'Alessio, and Carlo Conti, Bishop of Ancona e Numana, serving as co-consecrators.

During Urban's pontificate he was appointed to a number of Church administrative positions including Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals (1625 to 1626) before being appointed Dean of the College of Cardinals in time to preside over the conclave of 1644 which elected Urban's successor, Pope Innocent X.

[2] Lante died on 18 April 1652 and was buried at the San Nicola da Tolentino agli Orti Sallustiani.