Tributes paid after sudden death of Archbishop

70-year-old passes away just weeks after contracting Covid

THE Archbishop of Glasgow was hailed as an “immeasurable loss” to the city amid a stream of tributes following his sudden death yesterday. Philip Tartaglia passed away in his home at the age of 70 yesterday morning – on the day of the feast of St Mungo, Glasgow’s patron saint – shortly after testing positive for Covid-19.

The Catholic Church said it was too early to determine the cause of death.

A statement from the Archdiocese of Glasgow read: “The Archbishop of Glasgow, Philip Tartaglia, has died suddenly at his home in Glasgow. He was 70 years old.

“Archbishop

Tartaglia, who had served as archbishop of Glasgow since 2012, had tested positive for Covid-19 shortly after Christmas and was self-isolating at home. The cause of death is not yet clear.”

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was among those to pay tribute, writing: “Archbishop Tartaglia was a fine man who was much loved within the Catholic community and beyond.

“I always valued my interactions with him and he will be greatly missed.”

Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken added: “Archbishop Tartaglia was a Glaswegian. He was born and grew up in the East End of our city, he knew its people and the challenges faced by ordinary citizens, regardless their faith or beliefs.

“He brought attention to issues, from the plight of asylum seekers to nuclear weapons at Faslane, and kept the need for social justice firmly in the public consciousness. He was also unafraid to use his position to challenge deprivation, austerity and the ill-effects of welfare of reform when he believed it was his duty to call them out.

“That keen social conscience, compassion and the leadership he offered to his congregation during turbulent times will be a loss both to them and to the city as a whole.”

Born in Glasgow on January 11, 1951, he was the eldest son of parents Guido and Annita.

He went to school at St Thomas’ Primary, Riddrie, and then St Mungo’s Academy. Following studies in Aberdeen and Rome, he was ordained in the Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Dennistoun, on June 30, 1975. Throughout his career, Father Tartaglia held positions in Bearsden, Dumbarton, and Duntocher, before he became Bishop of Paisley in 2005.

In 2012, he was appointed Archbishop of Glasgow.

His appointed was confirmed in July 2012 and he took possession of the See of St Mungo in St Andrew’s Cathedral two months later.

During his time in Scotland’s second most senior Catholic role, he famously led the funeral service to Billy McNeill and tributes to the Clutha victims.

He was also a leading opponent of proposals to legalise same-sex marriage in Scotland and criticised ministers over anti-bigotry legislation.

McNeill’s club Celtic, whom Father Tartaglia supported, shared their own tribute, writing: “We are saddened to hear of the death of Archbishop Philip Tartaglia who was a huge supporter of the club and regularly attended matches at Celtic Park.

“Everyone at Celtic offers their sincere condolences to Philip’s family and Scotland’s Catholic community at this sad time.”

The president of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, Bishop Hugh Gilbert, said: “His loss to his family, his clergy and the people of the Archdiocese of Glasgow will be immeasurable but for the entire Church in Scotland this is a day of immense loss and sadness.”