Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of Bishop Emanuel Hana Shaleta of the Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of San Diego following his arrest over alleged embezzlement and money laundering linked to missing church funds.
Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of Emanuel Hana Shaleta, the bishop of the Eparchy of Saint Peter the Apostle of San Diego in the United States, following his arrest on multiple financial crime charges. The Vatican confirmed on Tuesday that the resignation was accepted the same day the cleric was released from custody after posting $125,000 bail.
“The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the eparchy of Saint Peter the Apostle of San Diego of the Chaldeans, United States of America, presented by Bishop Emanuel Hana Shaleta,” Vatican officials said in a statement. Authorities said Shaleta, who submitted his resignation in January, was arrested on March 6 at San Diego International Airport while attempting to board a flight to Germany with more than $9,000 in his bag. The 69-year-old bishop faces eight counts of embezzlement, eight counts of money laundering and one count of aggravated white-collar crime enhancement and pleaded not guilty to 15 felony counts during his arraignment.
Investigators said the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office began probing the case in August 2025 after an official of St. Peter Chaldean Church reported financial irregularities. Authorities believe at least $427,000 is missing from church accounts, with the amount possibly reaching $1 million. Reports also alleged that Shaleta made frequent visits to the Hong Kong Gentleman’s Club in Tijuana’s Zona Norte red-light district. However, the bishop denied the accusations, saying, “I have never — in my episcopal life — have I used any penny of the church money,” adding, “On the contrary: I have done my best to preserve and manage the donations,” and “you are the only one who can believe me and defend my integrity in the church financial matters and in life.”
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