Giovanni Cardinal Moroni

Giovanni Cardinal Moroni (January 25, 1509 – December 1, 1580) was a 16th century cardinal. He was named Bishop of Modena in 1529 and was created Cardinal Moroni in 1536 by Pope Paul III. As a cardinal, he resided in the Vatican's Apostolic Palace and was consulted by Saint Ignatius, founder of the Jesuits.

In 1540 Paul II sent Moroni as nuncio to Hagenau and Worms in an attempt to reclaim those areas for the Catholic Church. Later, Moroni commissioned Nicholas Sander to research the progress of Protestantism in England, resulting in the publication of the Report on the State of England in 1560. Moroni continued to explore issues within the Church and between Catholics and Protestants in hopes of reuniting the two sides.

It is believed that Pope Paul IV published his Cum ex Apostolatus Officio to prevent Cardinal Moroni from being elected the next Pope because he suspected Moroni of being in league with Protestants. Pope Pius IV was actually elected, so the matter was never resolved.

Moroni later assisted Pius IV in restarting the Council of Trent. He served as its last chair under Pius IV and helped the Council to create the Tridentine Creed.