Desiderio Scaglia was born in 1567 at
Cremona, part of the
Duchy of Milan (currently in the
province of Cremona in
Lombardy, Italy). He was a professor in the Dominican houses of study in Cremona and other cities in Lombardy. He was a well-known theologian and preacher during his time. During the pontificate of
Pope Clement VIII, he was named
inquisitor in the dioceses of
Pavia,
Cremona and
Milan. In 1616 he was called to Rome and named
commissary of the
Roman Inquisition. In this role, he was among the judges who presided over
the trial against
Galileo and signed his condemnation.
Pope Paul V created him a cardinal at the consistory of 11 January 1621. Cardinal Scaglia was ordained bishop by
Giambattista Cardinal Leni on 16 May 1621. He was appointed bishop of
Melfi and Rapolla in 1621 and transferred to the
diocese of Como the following year. He gave up the diocese of Como in 1632–1633 when was
Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals. He participated in the
conclave of 1621 which elected
Pope Gregory XV and
that of 1623 which elected
Pope Urban VIII. He died in Rome on 21 August 1639 at the age of 72. ==See also==