Message to the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh

Scottish Catholic Media Office
February 27, 2013

http://www.scmo.org/articles/message-to-the-archdiocese-of-st-andrews-and-edinburgh-.html

Message to the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh

From Archbishop Philip Tartaglia, Apostolic Administrator

My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, has appointed me Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh.

These are painful and distressing times for this venerable Archdiocese. You have lost your Cardinal Archbishop in the most difficult of circumstances.  I am so sorry for everyone involved and I assure them of my prayers. I too feel pained and distressed. 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.

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. 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. I have appointed Bishop Stephen Robson as my Delegate in the day-to-day governance of the archdiocese.

Let us pray for one another,

Yours devotedly in Christ,

  +Archbishop Philip Tartaglia

Apostolic Administrator

Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh