Editing Pope Pius VI (section)

===The priest===
Braschi became the private secretary of [[papal legate]] [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|Cardinal]] [[Tommaso Ruffo]], [[bishop of Ostia|Bishop of Ostia and Velletri]]. Cardinal Ruffo took him as his [[conclavist]] at the [[1740 papal conclave]] and when the latter became the [[Dean of the College of Cardinals]] in 1740, Braschi was appointed as his [[auditor (ecclesiastical)|auditor]], a post he held until 1753.<ref name=EB1911/>

Braschi's skill in the conduct of a mission to the [[Kingdom of Naples|court of Naples]] won him the esteem of [[Pope Benedict XIV]].<ref name=EB1911/> In 1753, following the death of Cardinal Ruffo, Benedict appointed Braschi one of his own secretaries.<ref name=Duffy>Eamon Duffy, ''Saints & Sinners: A History of the Popes'', 251.</ref> In 1755, the pope appointed him as a [[canon (priest)|canon]] of St Peter's Basilica.

In 1758, putting an end to an engagement to be married, Braschi was ordained to the priesthood. He was also appointed in 1758 [[Referendary]] of the [[Apostolic Signatura]] and held that position until the following year. He also became the auditor and secretary to  Cardinal [[Carlo Rezzonico (cardinal)|Carlo Rezzonico]], the nephew of [[Pope Clement XIII]]. In 1766, Clement XIII appointed Braschi treasurer of the [[camera apostolica]].<ref name=Duffy/>