One of the
Medici's keenest supporters, he nevertheless advised
Pope Clement VII against starting the
siege of Florence in 1529. He began his career by holding several significant civil posts in Florence, such as in the court of duke
Alessandro de' Medici, who set up the new constitution which put an end to the
republic of Florence. He married and had four children, but on his wife's death in 1526, he decided to be ordained to the priesthood and moved to Rome. There he was made
bishop of Pistoia in 1541, encouraged by his nephew
Antonio who had just given up that post himself. (Roberto's brother
Lorenzo Pucci was also a bishop and cardinal.) Roberto was later made a cardinal by
Pope Paul III in the 2 June 1542 consistory. In October 1542, Roberto baptised
Roberto Bellarmino (Bellarmino had been named after Pucci). Roberto Pucci was later made bishop of the
united dioceses of Melfi and Rapolla and
Major Penitentiary. ==See also==