being recognized as legitimate. It stated that his parents had been betrothed per sponsalia de presenti. This Papal act permitted Leo X to create him cardinal during the first Papal consistory on 23 September 1513. On 29 September, he was appointed Cardinal Deacon of Santa Maria in Domnica--a position that had been vacated by the Pope.

Cardinal Giulio's reputation during the reign of Leo X is recorded by contemporary Marco Minio,