Pier Donato Cesi was an Italian

Italian people

The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...

 Catholic

Roman Catholic Church

The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...

 Cardinal

Cardinal (Catholicism)

A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...

. He is sometimes referred to as Pier Donato Cesi, seniore (senior) to differentiate between him and his relative Pier Donato Cesi iuniore (1583–1656).

In 1570 he was elevated to the Cardinalate and installed as Cardinal-Priest of Santa Barbara then San Vitale and finally Sant'Anastasia in 1584.

Cesi was nominated at the Papal conclave of 1585

Papal conclave, 1585

The Papal conclave, 21 – 24 April, 1585 – papal conclave convoked after the death of Gregory XIII, elected Cardinal Felice Peretti Montalto, who under the name of Sixtus V became the 227th pope of the Roman Catholic Church....

but was not elected.