Scottish Catholic Observer

Archbishop Philip Tartagalia of Glasgow became president of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland as the younger generation of Scotland’s bishops naturally begins to take on leadership roles within the Scottish Church.

On Monday, Archbishop Tartaglia was elected president, Bishop Joseph Toal of Argyll and the Isles was elected vice president and Bishop Hugh Gilbert of Aberdeen was elected Episcopal secretary. Replacing Cardinal Keith O’Brien, Archbishop Emeritus Mario Conti and Bishop Joseph Devine respectively, the new appointees will each initially serve a three-year term.

Cardinal’s blessing

Cardinal O’Brien, who is standing down after a decade as president, told The Scottish Catholic Observer this week that he is confident the future of the conference and the Church is in safe hands.

The cardinal said, as he was approaching his 75th birthday—and as the Year of Faith began and the New Evangelisation started to be implemented—he decided ‘it was time not to put myself forward for re-election, to leave it to my brother bishops and myself to select a new leadership team’ but that he has had a ‘fascinating period of service in the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland.’

While no longer president of the conference, and taking more of a backseat in its business, the cardinal remains the country’s most senior Catholic clergyman and will also continue to serve in his present capacity as Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh.

Passing the torch

The three appointments represent a formalisation of a handover process within the Bishops’ Conference that has been triggered by numerous, previous and imminent, retirals among the existing Scottish hierarchy.

Archbishop Tartaglia and Bishops Toal and Gilbert will now make up the ‘standing committee’ of the Bishops’ Conference, which can act on behalf of the conference in emergencies.

Privilege

Archbishop Tartaglia said it was a great privilege to have been chosen to lead.

“I am honoured to have been elected president of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland and grateful to my brother bishops for the trust they have placed in me,” he said.

Bishop Toal said that he, Archbishop Tartaglia and Bishop Gilbert would do their utmost to guide the Church in Scotland wisely.

Bishop Gilbert also said he was privileged to be chosen.

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Pic: Paul McSherry