In 1948, Bishop Allorio sent him to Rome to study at the Pontifical Gregorian University, where he earned a doctorate in ecclesiastical history in 1952,[citation needed] with a thesis entitled "The Religious Policies of the Lombard Kings".

In the years 1964–1969, starting therefore during the period of the Second Vatican Council, he was in charge of the national Centro di Azione Liturgica (Centre for Liturgical Action) in Rome, and editor of its journal Liturgia.

Noè was to find ways of apply the governing principles and the practical norms of the new liturgical books that were gradually being revised and published to unique circumstances of the papal liturgy.

Noè's work were considered by traditionalists to be a minimization of proper traditional Catholic rites and detrimental to life of the liturgy.

The Masses and the more frequent liturgies for beatifications and canonizations, but also the special ceremonies called for by the Jubilee of 1975, the funeral of Paul VI and the inauguration of the pontificates of his successors, were all given a novel and nontraditional shape.

On 30 January 1982, Noè was appointed Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments and made Titular Archbishop of Voncaria.

On 15 May 1989, Noè was named Coadjutor Archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica, giving him the right to succeed the ailing Cardinal Aurelio Sabattani in that position.

Noè was made Cardinal-Deacon of San Giovanni Bosco in Via Tuscolana in the consistory of 28 June 1991 by Pope John Paul II.

After 10 years as Cardinal-Deacon, Noè took the option of elevation to the rank of Cardinal-Priest with the titular church of Regina Apostolorum as of 26 February 2002.