Pier Paolo Crescenzi was an Italian

Italian people

The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...

 Catholic

Roman Catholic Church

The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...

 Cardinal

Cardinal (Catholicism)

A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...

.

Crescenzi was born in 1572, the son of Virgilio Crescenzi, Baron of Montorio

Montorio

Montorio may refer to:*Montorio al Vomano, a town in the province of Teramo, Italy*Montorio nei Frentani, a town in the province of Campobasso, Italy*Montorio Romano, a town in the province of Rome, Italy*Montorio, Burgos, a municipality in Spain...

, and Costanza, of the Marquis

Marquis

Marquis is a French and Scottish title of nobility. The English equivalent is Marquess, while in German, it is Markgraf.It may also refer to:Persons:...

es of Drago

Drago

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. He was the brother of artist Giovanni Battista Crescenzi

Giovanni Battista Crescenzi

Giovanni Battista Crescenzi was an Italian painter and architect of the early-Baroque period, active in Rome and Spain, where he helped decorate the pantheon of the Spanish kings at El Escorial....

. He was educated at the University of Perugia

University of Perugia

University of Perugia is a public-owned university based in Perugia, Italy. It was founded in 1308, as attested by the Bull issued by Pope Clement V certifying the birth of the Studium Generale....

 and earned a doctorate utroque iure.

Very little is known about Crescenzi's early life but on 17 August 1611 he was elevated to Cardinal and installed as Cardinal-Priest of Ss. Nereo ed Achilleo.

In 1612 he was appointed Bishop of Rieti

Roman Catholic Diocese of Rieti

The Diocese of Rieti is a See of the Catholic Church in Italy. It is suffragan of Rome.-External links:* *...

 and then in 1621 he was appointed Bishop of Orvieto

Roman Catholic Diocese of Orvieto-Todi

The Italian Catholic diocese of Orvieto-Todi, in central Italy, was created in 1986 when the historical diocese of Orvieto was united to the diocese of Todi. This diocese is directly subject to the Holy See-History:...

. In 1629 he was appointed Cardinal-Bishop of Palestrina

Roman Catholic Suburbicarian Diocese of Palestrina

thumb|250 px|The Cathedral of Sant'Agapito in Palestrina.The Roman Catholic Suburbicarian Diocese of Palestrina, , is a Roman Catholic suburbicarian diocese centered on the comune of Palestrina in Italy....

 where he served for 12 years until being appointed Cardinal-Bishop of Porto-Santa Rufina

Roman Catholic Suburbicarian Diocese of Porto-Santa Rufina

The Diocese of Porto and Santa-Rufina is a suburbicarian see of the Holy Roman Church and a diocese of the Catholic Church in Italy...

 in 1641.

In 1644 he was made Vice-Dean of the College of Cardinals

Dean of the College of Cardinals

The Dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals is the president of the College of Cardinals in the Roman Catholic Church, and as such always holds the rank of Cardinal Bishop. The Dean is not necessarily the longest-serving member of the whole College...

 and helped to preside over the Papal conclave of 1644

Papal conclave, 1644

The papal conclave of 1644 was the papal conclave of Cardinals called on the death of Pope Urban VIII. It lasted from 9 August to 15 September 1644 and eventually chose Giovanni Battista Pamphili, who took office as Pope Innocent X.- Urban's influence :...

but died several months later on 19 February 1645.