FILE - Pope Leo XIV addresses the crowd during the weekly general audience at St Peter's Square in The Vatican on March 11, 2026. (Photo by Massimo Valicchia/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The bishop of a small Chaldean Catholic community in San Diego, California, has resigned after he allegedly embezzled $270,000 from his parish, Pope Leo XIV announced on Tuesday.
The Vatican said in its daily bulletin that the pope accepted Bishop Emanuel Shaleta’s resignation under the code of canon law for Eastern Rite churches.
Bishop pleads not guilty to embezzlement charges
Dig deeper:
Shaleta pleaded not guilty on Monday to 16 felony charges, including money laundering.
He was arrested on Thursday at the San Diego International Airport as he was trying to leave the country, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Office.
Shaleta, 69, is accused of embezzling from the St. Peter Chaldean Catholic Cathedral in El Cajon.
Pope Leo actually accepted Shaleta’s official resignation in February but did not announce it until this week, the Vatican embassy in Washington said.
It is believed the Holy See waited to announce the decision to avoid interfering with the investigation, according to The Associated Press.
What's next:
Shaleta could face 15 years in prison if convicted on all charges, the district attorney’s office said. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 27.
The Source: Information for this article was taken from The Associated Press.