Archbishop Edward T. O'Meara, who had been president and chairman of the Baltimore-based Roman Catholic agency assisting war and disaster victims worldwide, died in Indianapolis Friday after a long illness. He was 70.
The prelate, who also headed the Indianapolis archdiocese, was diagnosed last summer with pulmonary fibrosis, a lung disease.
He died at home, where he had been bedridden since Jan. 5, when he asked to be discharged from Indiana University Hospital, the Rev. David Coats said.
The illness caused him to resign in September as head of Catholic Relief Services, which has its headquarters in Baltimore.
"He's a splendid gentleman, and has a tremendous sense not only of the world condition but also a feel for the downtrodden," said Lawrence Pezzullo, executive director of the agency.