PHILIP Tartaglia gave a clear indication yesterday he was ready to take centre stage in the Catholic Church's ongoing disputes with the Scottish Government as he was named the new Archbishop of Glasgow.

The Bishop of Paisley vowed to "speak up when I have to" in a position that will establish him as Scotland's most influential religious leader and bring a new dynamic to the Church.

The 61-year-old Archbishop-elect has been at the forefront of the Church's campaign against the SNP administration's same-sex marriage proposals and made unprecedented criticisms of the Scottish Government last year over the Offensive Behaviour at Football legislation.

As an appointee of Pope Benedict XVI, Bishop Tartaglia will be expected to fight the Catholic corner in public life and will differ markedly in style and approach to his more low-key predecessor.

Following his installation on September 8, he will become the eighth Archbishop of Glasgow to hold office since the restoration of the Catholic hierarchy to Scotland in 1878.

He will also take charge of a diocese with an estimated Catholic population of 200,000, 95 parishes and 203 priests.

The new post is expected to provide Bishop Tartaglia with the platform to become both the face of Catholicism in Scotland for the next 15 years and the nation's most prominent and vocal religious leader.

Setting out his stall yesterday, he said that, while the Church's core role would not change, same-sex marriage had brought the relationship between the Church and civic authorities into "sharp focus.

Despite perceptions the Church of Scotland's role is slipping in public life, Bishop Tartaglia said he was standing shoulder to shoulder with other faiths on the Christian position on moral issues including gay marriage.

He said: "The Kirk has stood with us on this matter so far and I hope it continues to. I think every Christian leader does need to speak up from time to time. And I think the Catholic Church certainly will. And I will when I have to, yes.

"In some ways I'm surprised at the public reaction to our position because religion is supposed to be dead. But other Christian groups say good things, important things, and they must be heard too.

"The Church's core mission goes on irrespective of other circumstances it finds itself in. Same-sex marriage is one such issue. It will characterise the relationship between the Catholic Church and the Scottish Government going forward but we can deal with that.

"We'll not be making any statements on independence. I may have views as a citizen and I've not made my mind up yet, but the Bishops have no views on independence."

He also warned difficult decisions would have to be made within the Archdiocese in the context of the financial crisis and dwindling congregations, adding that, amid some concerns for his health, he would have to shed some weight to enable him to cope with the rigours of his post.

Bishop Tartaglia told how he was informed of his selection by the Papal Nuncio to the UK, Archbishop Antonio Mennini, when returning from a pilgrimage to Lourdes earlier this month. They had spoken in Italian to keep the news secret from other passengers.

He also told of his struggle to keep the secret from his sisters during a family holiday.

First Minister Alex Salmond, who has already had his run-ins with the Archbishop-elect and can be virtually guaranteed many more, offered his congratulations on the appointment.

Mr Salmond said: "I congratulate him on this richly deserved appointment and I look forward to meeting him regularly in the months ahead."