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Pope Accepts Resignation of San Diego Chaldean Bishop Charged With Embezzlement

The move separates church leadership from the criminal proceedings now headed for a preliminary hearing on April 27.

Image
The St. Peter Chaldean Catholic Cathedral is seen Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in El Cajon, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Pope Leo celebrates Mass at the Parish of Saint Mary of the Presentation in Rome, Italy, March 8, 2026. REUTERS/Ciro De Luca
The head of Vatican Security, Gianluca Gauzzi Broccoletti, center, follows Pope Leo XIV as he visits the parish complex of Santa Maria della Presentazione on the outskirts of Rome, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Overview

  • Bishop Emanuel Shaleta pleaded not guilty in El Cajon after his March 5 arrest at San Diego International Airport while preparing to fly to Germany.
  • Prosecutors allege he diverted roughly $270,000 tied to monthly cash rent payments exceeding $30,000 from a tenant of the cathedral’s social hall.
  • A judge set $125,000 bail with GPS monitoring, passport surrender, a prohibition on accessing church accounts, and a Penal Code 1275.1 review of any bail funds.
  • The Vatican said Pope Leo XIV accepted Shaleta’s resignation in February and on Tuesday appointed Bishop Saad Hanna Sirop as temporary administrator of the eparchy.
  • The criminal complaint remains under seal, and separate media reports about alleged personal misconduct are not part of the charges.