paul richaud was born in versailles, and there attended the major seminary before going to rome to study at the pontifical gregorian university. ordained to the priesthood on 28 june 1913, he then finished his studies in 1915 at the pontifical university of st. thomas aquinas, "angelicum" where he obtained a doctorate in philosophy. richaud did pastoral work in versailles until 1931, when he became its vicar general and vice-assistant general of the french catholic action.