13th JANUARY 2021 

It is with the greatest sorrow that we announce the death of our Archbishop. 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. The Archbishop had served as leader of Scotland’s largest Catholic community since 2012. 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. Please pray for the repose of the soul of Archbishop Philip, for his family and friends and people of the Archdiocese. Philip Tartaglia was born at Glasgow on 11th January 1951. He is the eldest son of Guido and Annita Tartaglia and had 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 on 30th June 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 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. In 1987 he was appointed Rector. He served as Rector 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. On 13th September 2005, Pope Benedict XVI nominated him Bishop of Paisley. On 20 November 2005, he was ordained Bishop in St Mirin's Cathedral by Archbishop Mario Conti who he was to succeed as Archbishop of Glasgow On 24th July 2012, Bishop Tartaglia was appointed Archbishop of Glasgow and was installed at St Andrew's Cathedral, Glasgow, on Saturday 8th September 2012, the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He died on January 13 2021, the Feast of St Mungo, the Patron Saint of Glasgow.

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Most Rev Philip Tartaglia
Archbishop of Glasgow
R.I.P.

"On behalf of the clergy and people of the Diocese of Paisley, I want to express my heartfelt condolences to the family of Archbishop Philip Tartaglia, and to the clergy and people of the Archdiocese of Glasgow. He goes to meet the LORD he served so faithfully on the Feast of Saint Kentigern, Patron Saint of the Archdiocese and City of Glasgow.

Archbishop Tartaglia throughout his life was a faithful servant of the Lord, and a caring shepherd of the Diocese of Paisley between 2005 and 2012.

He was a much loved Bishop of Paisley and will be remembered fondly by many.May he rest in peace."               

Bishop John