THE Catholic church has appointed a caretaker to run its affairs following the sudden death of the Archbishop of Glasgow.
Monsignor Hugh Bradley, a parish priest in the South Side, will assume the role of administrator of the city's archdiocese until a permanent replacement for Philip Tartaglia is found.
Archbishop Tartaglia died in his home on Wednesday following a period of self-isolation due to a positive Covid-19 test. The archdiocese, however, said it was too early to determine the cause of death.
READ MORE: Tributes pour in for Archbishop of Glasgow after death aged 70
Mgr Bradley said: “We are all still stunned and sorrowing following the sudden death of Archbishop Philip.
"We will have to prepare his funeral in the difficult circumstances of the current health emergency and in conjunction with his family. We hold him and them in affection and prayer at this difficult time."
Archbishop Tartaglia was hailed as an “immeasurable loss” to the city amid a stream of tributes following his sudden death - on the feast day of St Mungo - at the age of 70.
He had assumed Scotland's second most senior role since 2012 when he replaced Mario Conti.
Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken was among those to pay tribute, saying: “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 of their faith or beliefs.
READ MORE: Philip Tartaglia: Archbishop of Glasgow dies suddenly at home aged 70
“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 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.”
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