St Andrews & Edinburgh gets Apostolic Administrator

Archbishop Tartaglia

Source: SCMO/ICN

The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, has appointed the Most Rev Philip Tartaglia, Archbishop of Glasgow, as Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh. With immediate effect, Archbishop Tartaglia will govern the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh until a new Archbishop is appointed.

Archbishop Tartaglia said: "These are painful and distressing times for the Archdiocese, I also feel pained and distressed. With the grace of God, I will do my very best to oversee and govern the Archdiocese until the appointment of a new Archbishop. I ask for your prayers."

Earlier today, a spokesman from the Scottish Catholic Media reaffirmed that Cardinal Keith O'Brien had sent his resignation letter to Pope Benedict on 18 February, several days before allegations against him were published in the Sunday Observer. He said that the Cardinal does not know what the allegations against him are.