Pope Leo XIV accepted the resignation of a California bishop arrested at San Diego International Airport while attempting to flee the country, facing 16 felony charges for allegedly embezzling $270,000 from his own church congregation.

Bishop Arrested at Airport Before Flight

Bishop Emanuel Shaleta, 69, who led the Chaldean Catholic community in the San Diego area, pleaded not guilty Monday to charges including embezzlement and money laundering. The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office arrested Shaleta last Thursday as he attempted to board an international flight, though authorities have not disclosed his intended destination. A judge set bail at $125,000 and immediately seized his passport after prosecutors argued he posed a clear flight risk.

The charges stem from an investigation that began last August when a church member provided documentation showing potential financial irregularities at St. Peter Chaldean Catholic Cathedral in El Cajon, just east of San Diego. Prosecutor Joel Madero told the court that monthly rental payments exceeding $30,000 from a tenant using the church’s social hall had gone missing. Madero stated that Shaleta “provided completely unreasonable tales of where that money was going” when questioned about discrepancies in church accounts.

Vatican Delayed Announcement During Investigation

The Vatican embassy in Washington revealed that Pope Leo XIV actually accepted Shaleta’s resignation back in February, but the Holy See deliberately withheld the announcement to avoid interfering with the ongoing criminal investigation. This strategic delay demonstrates coordination between church authorities and law enforcement officials investigating the alleged financial crimes.

Bishop Denied Wrongdoing Before Arrest

During a February 22 Mass, just weeks before the Vatican accepted his resignation, Shaleta directly addressed allegations against him from the pulpit. He told his congregation he had never “abused any penny of the church money” and insisted he had “done my best to preserve and manage the donations of the church properly.” His defense attorney, Sharon Appelbaum, said she plans to challenge the allegations, though the case remains pending. Many of Shaleta’s supporters attended Monday’s arraignment hearing, demonstrating continued loyalty despite the serious charges. The Chaldean Catholic Church serves a small community of Iraqi Christians in Southern California.