THE Roman Catholic Archbishop of Glasgow has died aged 70.

Philip Tartaglia, who was ordained as a priest in 1975, had previously been parish priest at St Mary's Church in Duntocher between 1995 and 2004 - and prior to that was assistant priest at St Patrick's Church in Dumbarton for two years.

The Most Reverend Tartaglia, who was made Bishop of Paisley by Pope Benedict XVVI in  2005 and was appointed Archbishop of Glasgow in 2012.

He died on Wednesday January 13, the Feast of St Mungo – the patron saint of Glasgow.

It's understood that he tested positive for coronavirus shortly after Christmas and was self-isolating at home.

However the Catholic Church in Scotland said the cause of death is not yet clear.

A spokesman for the Church said the Archdiocese will be overseen by an administrator until the Pope appoints a successor.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon paid tribute to Archbishop Tartaglia during First Minister's Questions. 

Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken said: “I am greatly saddened to hear of the passing of Archbishop Tartaglia and I send my condolences to his family, friends and colleagues – and to the whole of the Catholic community across the Archdiocese of Glasgow. 

“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.”