On 27 October 1497, he was appointed during the papacy of Pope Alexander VI as Bishop of Lodi.[2][6] His title was more than pastoral and he used his position to secure funding and troops for the expeditions of his uncle Ludovico il Moro.[3]
He was once again forced from the bishopric in 1515 after the Duke of Milan Massimiliano Sforza and the Bishop of Sion, Matthäus Schiner, suspected him of collaborating with the French; others contend that it was jealousy on the part of Duke Massimiliano Sforza.[5] Fleeing to Germany, he returned to Italy in 1519.[5]
On 19 November 1519, he was appointed Bishop of Arezzo by Pope Leo X(switching places with Gerolamo Sansoni), where he served until his resignation in 1525.[6]
In 1527, he returned to Lodi, this time as the head of a band of mercenary troops where he helped to secure Milanese control of the city[3] from the Venetians (who had seized it from the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V in 1526). He also regained the bishopric of Lodi, serving until his resignation in 1530[5] (some sources state he served from 1525-1531).[2] His successor was again Gerolamo Sansoni.
He retired to Milan where after the death of the Duke of Milan, he unsuccessfully sought the ducal throne. Thereafter he moved to Murano.[5]