Giovanni Visconti, Bishop of Sabina

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For the 14th century cardinal, see Giovanni Visconti.

Giovanni Visconti (died in 1278 or between July and November 1277 at Rome) was nephew of Pope Gregory X, who created him cardinal-bishop of Sabina in 1275. He became dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals in September 1276.

Konrad Eubel, Hierarchia Catholica Medii Aevi. Volumen I, p. 9 and 38 denies his promotion to the cardinalate, indicating that previous Cardinal-Bishop of Sabina Bertrand de Saint-Martin died in 1277, so Visconti couldn't have become his successor in 1275. However, the majority of the other sources, including Pius Bonifacius Gams, Series episcoporum Ecclesiae catholicae, p. XIII and Annuaire Pontifical Catholique 1929, p. 127 confirm that he occupied the see of Sabina from 1275 until 1278. Salvador Miranda in his biographical entry adnotes the doubts concerning the fact of his promotion and says that he died between July and November 1277, during sede vacante after the death of Pope John XXI.