Jean d'Arces was born in Montiers, the son of a noble family.
[1] On February 28, 1438, he was elected Archbishop of Tarentaise, a post he held until his death.
[1] He took part in the Council of Florence (1431–45) as the representative of Cardinal Louis Aleman.
[1] While there, he participated in the papal conclave of November 5, 1439, where he supported the election of Antipope Felix V.[1] Antipope Felix V created him a pseudocardinal in Geneva on April 6, 1444, awarding him the titular church of Santi Nereo e Achilleo.
[1] Pope Nicholas V made him a cardinal in the consistory of December 19, 1449, confirming his possession of Santi Nereo e Achilleo the next day.