Career
He was elected to the Roman Curia and the Papal diplomacy, and was also nuntius of Switzerland and Spain. Valenti Gonzaga was born at Roveredo, in what is now the province of Mantua. He was made cardinal in pectore in April 1776 by Pope Pius VI, published in May 1776.
He was made Cardinal-Priest of Sant"Agnese fuori le mura in1778.
He took part in the 1799–1800 Conclave as chosen by Pope Pius VII. He was State Secretary in 1740 and was later prefect for the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples from 1747. He died at Viterbo.