Vatican Announces Bishop Resignation Following Arrest
The Vatican recently confirmed that Pope Leo XIV accepted the resignation of Bishop Emmanuel Hana Shaleta, who was apprehended at San Diego International Airport on charges of embezzlement and money laundering while attempting to leave the country.
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office reported that Shaleta’s arrest occurred on March 6, 2026, as he was preparing to board an international flight.
According to a tweet by local reporter Amy Reichert, Shaleta is facing multiple felonies and has been accused of significant financial misconduct.
He was released on bail just a few days later. The Vatican embassy in Washington, D.C., revealed that the pontiff had accepted Shaleta’s resignation back in February, though the announcement was held off until now, likely to prevent any interference with active investigations.
Shaleta is accused of embezzling around $270,000 from St. Peter Chaldean Church located in El Cajon, just east of San Diego. Church representatives brought the matter to the Sheriff’s Office’s attention in August 2025, providing documentation that suggested possible embezzlement.
The Sheriff’s Office mentioned that they were alerted about suspicious financial activities linked to Shaleta.
Initially, he claimed that the funds in question went to charity, although he could not provide any supporting evidence for this assertion. Reports have surfaced indicating that he had been a frequent visitor at a strip club in Tijuana, Mexico, a situation that some might find concerning.
Details from a private investigator suggested that Shaleta was observed using facilities specifically reserved for visitors to this club, raising eyebrows about his activities.
During a meeting on February 22, Shaleta firmly denied all allegations of financial misconduct, asserting that he never misappropriated any church funds. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
If found guilty of all counts, Shaleta could face a lengthy prison sentence, with the upcoming preliminary hearing set for April 27, 2026. Meanwhile, the Vatican has appointed Bishop Saad Hannah Syrup to supervise the Diocese of San Diego in the interim.
