[4] He rose quickly in the ecclesiastical hierarchy, and in a consistory held by Pope Nicholas IV on 16 May 1288, he was appointed a cardinal deacon and assigned the Deaconry of S.

Cardinal Napoleone Orsini participated prominently in the long conclave of 1 May 1314 to 5 September 1316, following the death of Clement V. There was, to be sure, a long intermission in the proceedings, caused by multiple forces which began with dissensions among the retinues of the cardinals, included an attempt to set fire to the conclave, and the direct involvement of the royal family of France.

Immediately after the election, even before the coronation, Cardinal Napoleone managed to obtain from the new pope for the benefit of his cousin Paul de Comite, a papal chaplain, the reversion of a canonry and prebend in the Church of Lichfield; and for the benefit of another cousin Peter de Comite the confirmation of a canonry and prebend in the Church of London.

[10] In the conclave of 1334, following the death of Pope John XXII, he participated as senior cardinal deacon, prior Diaconum.

On the evening of 20 December 1334, they chose Cardinal Jacques Fournier, O.Cist., of Savardun near Toulouse, in the Diocese of Pamiers, who adopted the name Benedict XII.