Pope Leo fires San Diego bishop accused of stealing US$250,000

Bishop Emanuel Hana Shaleta is seen in this undated photo (St. Paul Assyrian Chaldean Catholic Church)

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Leo has accepted the resignation of a Catholic bishop in San Diego who was arrested by local authorities on suspicion of stealing US$250,000 from his congregation, the Vatican announced on Tuesday.

Bishop Emanuel Hana Shaleta had led the small Chaldean Catholic community in the California city since 2017. He pleaded not guilty to 16 counts of embezzlement and money laundering at a hearing on Monday, according to local media reports.

San Diego Deputy District Attorney Joel Madero said the alleged crimes took place in 2024 and were reported by a church employee who noticed the missing funds, according to KGTV, a local ABC affiliate.

Hana Shaleta was arrested on March 5 at San Diego’s international airport while attempting to leave the U.S., according to a sheriff’s office statement.

The bishop’s lawyer said at Monday’s hearing that Hana Shaleta was taking a planned trip to Germany.

Chaldean Catholics recognize the authority of the pope but worship according to an eastern Christian liturgical rite. There are about 71,000 Chaldean Catholics in San Diego, according to Vatican statistics.

(Reporting by Joshua McElwee; Editing by Alvise Armellini)