Panafieu was born on 26 January 1931 in Châtellerault and ordained on 22 April 1956 for the archdiocese of Albi,[1] where he served as a vicar and chaplain of the lyceum La Pérouse.

He was named coadjutor bishop of Marseille on 24 August 1994 and became archbishop there on 22 April 1995.

He served as the first metropolitan archbishop when Marseille was elevated to that status on 16 December 2002.

[1] He was created Cardinal-Priest of San Gregorio Barbarigo alle Tre Fontane in the consistory of 2003 by Pope John Paul II.

He was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2005 papal conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI.