Archbishop of Glasgow Philip Tartaglia dies with coronavirus

The head of Scotland’s largest Catholic community, Archbishop Philip Tartaglia, has died suddenly at his home aged 70.

Archbishop Tartaglia, who had served Glasgow since 2012, tested positive for Covid-19 shortly after Christmas and was self-isolating at home.

The cause of death is not yet clear.

The Pope’s Ambassador to Great Britain, Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti has been informed and Pope Francis will appoint a successor but until then the Archdiocese will be overseen by an administrator.

A spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Glasgow said: “It is with the greatest sorrow that we announce the death of our Archbishop.

“Please pray for the repose of the soul of Archbishop Philip, for his family and friends and people of the Archdiocese.”

Archbishop Tartaglia was born in Glasgow on January 11, 1951.

He was the eldest son of Guido and Annita Tartaglia and had three brothers and five sisters.

He attended St. Thomas’ Primary, Riddrie, and then St. Mungo’s Academy, Glasgow, before moving to the national junior seminary at St. Vincent’s College, Langbank and, later, St. Mary’s College, Blairs, Aberdeen.

His ecclesiastical studies were completed at the Pontifical Scots College, and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

He was ordained into the Catholic priesthood by then-Archbishop Thomas Winning in 1975. He then returned to Rome to study for his Doctorate in Sacred Theology.

On completing his Doctorate in 1980, he was appointed assistant priest at Our Lady of Lourdes, Cardonald, while at the same time becoming visiting lecturer at St. Peter’s College, Newlands, Glasgow.

A year later, he became a lecturer and went on to hold a number of posts in Catholic educational establishments including the rectorship of Pontifical Scots College in Rome.

On September 13, 2005, Pope Benedict XVI nominated him Bishop of Paisley.

On November 20, 2005, he was ordained Bishop in St Mirin’s Cathedral by Archbishop Mario Conti who he was to succeed as Archbishop of Glasgow

On July 24, 2012, Bishop Tartaglia was appointed Archbishop of Glasgow and was installed at St Andrew’s Cathedral, Glasgow, on Saturday, September 8, 2012, the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.