Paolo Bisanti was born in Kotor in 1529 to a local noble family: his uncle Trifone had been bishop of that town till 1540.
[1] Paolo graduated in utroque iure in Padova,[2] and when back in Kotor he was encharged of local politic duties.
His brother Luca resigned the bishopric in his favour, and Paolo was so appointed Bishop of Kotor on 12 October 1565.
However, thanks to his diplomatic skills, in 1581 he succeeded in entering Carniola, Styria and Carinthia, and in 1583 Burgenland and Gorizia (part of the Patriarchate of Aquileia) to perform his pastoral visit as requested by the Council of Trent.
[3][4] The Patriarchate of Aquileia bordered territories with a Protestant presence, so Paolo Bisanti was particularly active in implementing the measures of the Council of Trent, and in reforming the clergy.