He was made a cardinal in the consistory of 19 December 1539, by Pope Paul III. The King (and no doubt Mme. d'Estampes) had been extremely annoyed when Sanguin had not been named a cardinal in the Consistory of 20 December 1538, as they had expected. He was assigned the Deaconry of Santa Maria in Portico on 15 July 1541, which was temporarily ("pro hac vice") promoted to the rank of titular church. His red hat was sent to him in France, and was presented to him by the Papal Legate, Cardinal Alessandro Farnese in a ceremony held in Notre Dame de Paris on Pentecost, 1540. Sanguin first presented himself in Rome for his introduction into the Roman Curia on 20 December 1547, and was received by the Pope on 22 December. He was presented with his ring on 9 January 1548 and granted the right to speak in Consistory.