The Vatican announced on Tuesday that Pope Leo has accepted the resignation of Bishop Emanuel Hana Shaleta, the cleric who had overseen the Chaldean Catholic community in San Diego since 2017. The move followed the bishop’s arrest by local authorities on allegations that he took $250,000 from his congregation.
At a hearing on Monday, Hana Shaleta entered a plea of not guilty to 16 counts covering embezzlement and money laundering, according to local media accounts. San Diego Deputy District Attorney Joel Madero told reporters that prosecutors allege the unlawful acts occurred during 2024 and that the complaints were prompted when a church employee discovered the missing funds, KGTV reported.
San Diego County sheriff’s officials said Hana Shaleta was arrested on March 5 at the city’s international airport while he was trying to leave the United States. The bishop’s attorney told the court on Monday that the trip underway was a planned journey to Germany. The Vatican statement did not provide additional detail beyond confirming acceptance of the resignation.
The congregation Hana Shaleta served practices according to an eastern Christian liturgical rite and recognises the pope’s authority. Vatican statistics cited in the announcement indicate there are about 71,000 Chaldean Catholics in San Diego.
The case remains in the hands of local prosecutors as the criminal process continues. The allegations, the subsequent arrest, the formal plea of not guilty, and the Vatican’s acceptance of the resignation together mark the principal developments reported to date.
Contextual note - The available public record for this matter is limited to the charges, the arrest, the plea entered in court, the report by a church employee that prompted the investigation, and the Vatican’s confirmation of the resignation. No additional factual details were provided in the official statements referenced in local media coverage.