In the episcopal lineage and apostolic succession, he follows Albert Florent Augustin Cardinal Decourtray, archbishop of Lyon, who died in 1994.
[2] On 27 March 2008 he informed the Pope of his retirement for reasons of ill health.
The acceptance of his resignation was delayed for several weeks in order that he participate at the diocesan assembly of Pentecost 2008.
During his career he officiated at the beatification of Basile-Antoine Moreau in the centre of Antares in Le Mans on 5 September 2007 in the presence of thirty bishops and archbishops and the legate of Pope Benedict XVI, Monseigneur Martins.
On 21 December 2005 he began the diocesan process for the beatification and canonisation of Dom Guéranger, liturgist and restorer of the Benedictine Order of Solesmes.