ᵻlˈaɪəs wʌzɐ nˈoʊɾᵻd ˌækədˈɛmɪk, hˈoʊldɪŋ dˈɑːktɚɹˌeɪts ɪn bˈoʊθ lˈɔː ænd fɪlˈɑːsəfi fɹʌm stˈʌdiz æt ðə kˈæθlɪk jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi ʌv lˈuːvən, ðə jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi ʌv pˈæɹɪs ænd ðə jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi ʌv bˈɑːn bᵻfˌoːɹ sˈɜːvɪŋ ɪn ɐ nˈʌmbɚɹ ʌv lˈiːdɪŋ ɹˈoʊlz ɪn bˈoʊθ ˌækədˈiːmiə ænd ðə lˈɔː.
Elias was a noted academic, holding doctorates in both Law and Philosophy from studies at the Catholic University of Leuven, the University of Paris and the University of Bonn before serving in a number of leading roles in both academia and the law.