Bichi was born in
Siena in 1596, the son of Vincenzo Bichi and nephew of Cardinal
Metello Bichi. At an early age he became
Lieutenant of the Auditor of the
Apostolic Chamber during the pontificate of
Pope Urban VIII and was then appointed
Referendary of the Tribunals of the
Apostolic Signatura of Justice and of Grace. Bichi was elected
Bishop of Isola on 5 May 1628) and was immediately sent to
Naples as papal
nuncio. In 1630 he became nuncio to
France and on 9 September 1630 he was appointed
Bishop of Carpentras. He was elevated to Cardinal in 1633 and was made
Cardinal-Priest of Santa Sabina In 1640 Alessadro Bichi made build by the Avignon architect François Royers de la Valfenière the new episcopal palace of Carpentras, which in 1801 became the Courthouse of the town. In 1644, Pope Urban VIII died and the
College of Cardinals came together in
conclave to elected a new
Pope. As nuncio to France, Bichi naturally sided with the Cardinals of the French delegation led by
Antonio Barberini. Bichi participated in the
conclave of 1655 which elected
Pope Alexander VII. Bichi, who was already at odds with Innocent's powerful sister-in-law
Olimpia Maidalchini, was said to have exclaimed,
"We will elect a female pope". He died on 25 May 1657 in
Rome and he was buried in the
Basilica di Santa Sabina.. ==Episcopal succession==