He joined the Dominican Order in Paris in 1926 and was ordained on 6 July 1932.

Pope John XXIII appointed him titular Archbishop of Erocleopoli Maggiore on 28 August 1962 and he was consecrated on 21 September of that year at the hands of Pope John.

He was created and proclaimed Cardinal-Deacon of S. Pio V a Villa on 5 March 1973.

Pope Paul VI appointed him Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches the next day.

He opted for the order of cardinal priests and his deaconry was elevated pro hac vice to title on 2 February 1983 after being ten years as a cardinal deacon.