Editing Pope Sixtus V (section)

===Franciscan===
At the age of 9 years, Felice returned to [[Montalto delle Marche|Montalto]] to join his uncle in the [[Franciscans|Franciscan]] Convent of San Francesco delle Fratte. At the age of 12, he was initiated as a novice of the [[Franciscan Order]], assuming the name of Fra Felice (Friar Felix) in 1535, maintaining his birth name. From this year, he started philosophical and theological studies, moving between different convents of the Order. He finally completed his studies in the Franciscan Magna Domus of [[Bologna]] on September 1544. Three years earlier he had been ordained as a deacon.

About 1552 he was noticed by Cardinal [[Rodolfo Pio da Carpi]], Protector of the [[Franciscan order]], Cardinal Ghislieri (later [[Pope Pius V]]) and Cardinal Caraffa (later [[Pope Paul IV]]), and from that time his advancement was assured. He was sent to [[Venice]] as [[Inquisition|inquisitor general]] of the [[Venetian Holy Inquisition]],<ref name="EB1911" /> but was so severe and conducted matters in such a high-handed manner that he became embroiled in quarrels. In 1560, the Venetian government asked for his recall.

After a brief term as [[Procurator (Catholic canon law)|procurator]] of his order, he was attached in 1565 to the papal legation to [[Habsburg Spain|Spain]] headed by Cardinal Ugo Boncampagni (later [[Pope Gregory XIII]]) which was sent to investigate a charge of [[heresy]] levelled against [[Bartolomé Carranza]], [[Archbishop of Toledo]]. The violent dislike which Peretti conceived for Boncampagni had a marked influence on his subsequent actions. He hurried back to Rome upon the accession of Pius V, who made him [[apostolic vicar]] of his order and then, in 1570, [[cardinal (Catholicism)|cardinal]].<ref name=EB1911/>