Archbishop of Glasgow, 70, dies suddenly at home following positive Covid test after Christmas
- Catholic Philip Tartaglia had served as the religious leader since 2012
- He was self-isolating at home after contracting the virus late last month
- Catholic Church in Scotland said the cause of death is not yet clear
The Catholic Archbishop of Glasgow Philip Tartaglia has died after contracting Covid-19.
The 70-year-old, who had served as Archbishop of Glasgow since 2012, tested positive for coronavirus shortly after Christmas and was self-isolating at home.
The Catholic Church in Scotland said the cause of his death was not yet clear.
The Catholic Archbishop of Glasgow Philip Tartaglia has died after contracting Covid-19
It will be for Pope Francis to appoint a new Archbishop to succeed Archbishop Tartaglia, but until then the Archdiocese will be overseen by an administrator
The Pope’s Ambassador to Great Britain, Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti has been informed.
It will be for Pope Francis to appoint a new Archbishop to succeed Archbishop Tartaglia, but until then the Archdiocese will be overseen by an administrator.
A statement from the church said: ‘Please pray for the repose of the soul of Archbishop Philip, for his family and friends and people of the Archdiocese.’
Born in Glasgow in 1951 he was the eldest son of Guido and Annita Tartaglia, with three brothers and five sisters.
After his primary schooling at St. Thomas’, Riddrie, he began his secondary education at 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 Priest by then-Archbishop Thomas Winning in the Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Dennistoun in 1975 before returning 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.
The 70-year-old had served as the Archbishop of Glasgow for nearly a decade, since 2012
A year later, he was appointed Lecturer at St. Peter’s College, Newlands, becoming Director of Studies in 1983.
When Chesters College, Bearsden, opened in 1985 he was made Vice-Rector, before being appointed Rector two years later.
He served in that role until 1993 when he was appointed to St. Patrick’s, Dumbarton, as Assistant Priest before being appointed Parish Priest of St. Mary’s, Duntocher in 1995.
In 2004, the Bishops’ Conference appointed him Rector of the Pontifical Scots College, Rome.
The following year, Pope Benedict XVI nominated him Bishop of Paisley. and he was later ordained Bishop in St Mirin’s Cathedral by Archbishop Mario Conti who he was to succeed as Archbishop of Glasgow
In 2012, Bishop Tartaglia was appointed Archbishop of Glasgow and was installed at St Andrew’s Cathedral, Glasgow, during the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.