Giovanni Visconti

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For the Italian cyclist, see Giovanni Visconti (cyclist)

Giovanni Visconti (died October 5, 1354) was an Italian Roman Catholic cardinal, who was co-ruler in Milan and lord of other Italian cities.

He was the son of Matteo I Visconti and Bonacosa Borri.

He was elected archbishop by the Capitol of Milan in 1317, but Pope John XII refused to confirm the election and enforced instead Aircardus from Comodeia to that position. In 1323 John excommunicated him with the accuse of heresy, and Visconti found an ally in the antipope Nicholas V, who give him the cardinal title. In 1331 he became bishop and lord of Novara, and in 1339, after Aicardus' death, he triumphally entered in Milan, although only in 1342 Clement VI issued a bull confirming him in the archbishopric.

In the meantime, together with his brother Luchino, Visconti had bought from the Pope the title of co-ruler of Milan, for 500,000 florins. After Luchino's death, he associated in the lordship the sons of his other brother, Stefano, Matteo II, Bernabò and Galeazzo II).

In 1352 he was lord of Genoa, to which, in the following year, he added Bologna and Novara. He died in 1354.