Scottish Catholic Observer

“You have lost your Cardinal Archbishop in the most difficult of circumstances,” Archbishop Philip Tartaglia of Glasgow said in a letter to Catholics in St Andrews and Edinburgh. “I am so sorry for everyone involved and I assure them of my prayers. The people of the archdiocese are having to bear the impact of these sad events as you go about your daily lives in your communities and at work. You have to cope with disturbing media reports and you have to face the questions, the critical comments, the unkind remarks and the jibes.”

Pope Benedict XVI appointed Archbishop Tartaglia as Apostolic administrator to St Andrews and Edinburgh earlier today, following His Holiness’s acceptance of Cardinal Keith O’Brien’s resignation on Monday.

The archbishop will celebrate Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral in Edinburgh tomorrow at 12.45pm.

Cardinal O’Brien applied last year for early retirement ahead of his 75^th birthday this month due to ‘indifferent health.’ The cardinal is now contesting allegations by three priests in St Andrews and Edinburgh who sent a complaint about him to the Apostolic nuncio to the United Kingdom.

Archbishop Tartaglia will oversee St Andrews and Edinburgh Archdiocese until the next Pope appoints a new archbishop there.

The Glasgow Archbishop said he would work with Auxiliary Bishop Stephen Robson, who would be his delegate in the day-to-day governance of St Andrews and Edinburgh.

“I want you to know that Bishop Robson, the priests of the archdiocese and I are one with you in these unfortunate circumstances, and thank you for your faithfulness and love of the Church,” he tells to Catholics in his letter. “At this time, we need more than ever to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus Christ who alone is our Saviour, our Good Shepherd and our Consoler. With the grace of God, I will do my very best to oversee and govern the Archdiocese until the appointment of a new archbishop.”

—ian@sconews.co.uk