Archbishop Edwin F. O'Brien has issued a statement on the death of Bishop Michael Saltarelli of Wilmington, who succumbed to cancer early Thursday at age 77.

As bishop of Wilmington for 12 years until his retirement last year, Saltarelli was spiritual leader of Eastern Shore Catholics. O'Brien and Saltarelli served together on the board of governors of the Maryland Catholic Conference.

On behalf of the faithful of the entire Metropolitan See of Baltimore, I express my great sadness to God’s people in the Diocese of Wilmington at the loss of their beloved Bishop, Michael Saltarelli, who, having reached the mandatory retirement age, resigned last year.

With a love for his priestly ministry always in his heart, Bishop Saltarelli led the Church in Wilmington through a period of tremendous growth and through times of pain and difficulty. Indefatigable throughout his battle with cancer, Bishop Saltarelli continued to serve God with great love for His people and with the selfless witness that were hallmarks of his priestly ministry.

At the time of his retirement, he told a reporter with the local Wilmington paper, “My strength is that I love being with people...When you die the Lord wants to know ‘were you good, were you kind, were you compassionate.’” Those who knew Bishop Saltarelli best are responding with a resounding ‘yes’ today on behalf of this good and holy priest of Jesus Christ.

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