In 1497 his father died, and he moved to Rome to follow Cardinal Giovanni de Medici, remaining bound to him in his years of exile, under the pontificates of Alexander VI and Julius II.
[1] The election of Cardinal Medici to the papacy, opened up the possibility of him taking on a more active role in papal policy, especially concerning disagreements between cousins Borghese and Alfonso with Leo X.
In March 1516, with the support of the Pope and Florence, he implemented a coup that brought him to power in Siena in place of his cousin Borghese Petrucci.
Raffaello maintained a moderate conduct, aimed at seeking the consensus of the citizens, and not increasing discontent with fiscal impositions.
On 14 March 1519 he was appointed apostolic administrator of Bertinoro, keeping the job exactly one year, before resigning in favor of his son Pietro.