By Micah Jonah
March 10, 2026
The head of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo, has accepted the resignation of Emanuel Hana Shaleta, a bishop in San Diego, United States, who was arrested on suspicion of stealing about $250,000 from his church community.
According to a Vatican announcement on Tuesday, the bishop stepped down after authorities accused him of embezzling church funds. Prosecutors allege the money was taken from the congregation he had led since 2017.
Local prosecutors in California say the alleged crimes happened in 2024 and were discovered when a church employee noticed missing funds. The case reportedly includes 16 counts of embezzlement and money laundering.
Authorities arrested the bishop on March 5 at San Diego International Airport while he was attempting to leave the United States. His lawyer said he was simply travelling to Germany on a previously planned trip.
The bishop has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The church community involved belongs to the Chaldean Catholic Church, an Eastern Christian church that recognizes the authority of the Pope but follows its own traditional liturgy. Vatican statistics estimate there are about 71,000 Chaldean Catholics in San Diego.
The legal case is expected to continue in the United States courts while the Vatican moves forward with leadership changes for the local diocese.
