Pope Leo has accepted the resignation of a Catholic bishop in San Diego who was arrested by local authorities on suspicion of stealing $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.
Source : https://www.reuters.com/world/pope-leo-fires-san-diego-bishop-accused-stealing-250000-2026-03-10/