Antonio Francesco was born in
Parma. He was born in Parma on 10 February 1660 in the noble
Sanvitale family and had the title of
Count of Fontanellato. He graduated in utroque iure at the
University of Parma. He was named mayor of the Vatican
Basilica under the
pontificate of
Innocent XI. On 27 December 1699 he was ordained a priest. On 15 March 1700 he was appointed vice-tied to Avignon. He was elected, on 16 July 1703,
Archbishop of Ephesus, On the 22nd of the same month he was consecrated by
Fabrizio Paolucci and was then transferred to the metropolitan headquarters in
Urbino on 6 May 1709. On 17 July 1703 a nuncio was created in Florence for him. For many years during his stay in
Austria, his secretary was
Gaetano Bedini who would later be a Cardinal himself. Pope
Clement XI created him
cardinal in pectore in the consistory of 15 April 1709 and published the nomination on 22 July the same year. On 9 September that year he received the title of St. Peter in Montorio. He died in Urbino on 17 December 1714 at the age of 54 and was buried in the cathedral of the city. ==Episcopal succession==