on 19 december 1933 richaud was appointed auxiliary bishop of versailles and titular bishop of irenopolis in isauria by pope pius xi. he received his episcopal consecration on 25 january 1934 from bishop benjamin roland-gosselin, with bishops pierre-marie gerlier and georges louis. richaud was later named bishop of laval on 27 july 1938, and archbishop of bordeaux on 10 february 1950.