Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of a bishop from the Chaldean Catholic Church in the United States after he was charged with multiple counts of embezzlement involving church funds.
The Vatican announced on Tuesday that Emanuel Hana Shaleta had stepped down from his position as bishop of the Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of St Peter the Apostle in California.
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Although the Vatican’s statement did not give an official reason for the resignation, authorities in the United States confirmed that Shaleta had been arrested earlier this month.
According to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office, the bishop was arrested on March 5 at an airport in San Diego while allegedly attempting to leave the country.
He faces eight counts of embezzlement, eight counts of money laundering, and one count of aggravated white-collar crime enhancement.
Investigators said Shaleta had been under investigation since August, after a member of the church reported allegations of financial misconduct.
Authorities stated that the bishop is accused of misappropriating about $270,000 in church funds.
Following his arrest, Shaleta was held at the San Diego Central Jail with bail set at $125,000, according to the sheriff’s office.
Reports from U.S. media indicate that the bishop pleaded not guilty to the charges during a court appearance on Monday.
The Chaldean Catholic Church, which is historically rooted in Iraq and Iran, is one of the Eastern Catholic Churches that remain in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church.
Its global headquarters is located in Baghdad, and the church has a large diaspora community in the United States.
Shaleta, who was born in 1956 in Iraq, has lived in the United States since 1987, according to information on the church’s official website.
The case has drawn attention within the church community as legal proceedings continue in the United States.