(RNS) — Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of Bishop Emanuel Hana Shaleta, the leader of Chaldean Catholics in the Western U.S., the Vatican announced Tuesday (March 10), after Shaleta was arrested at the San Diego International Airport on Thursday on charges of embezzlement and money laundering.
The Chaldean church is one of 23 Eastern Rite churches that are in full communion with the Catholic Church and recognize the pope as their head. The Chaldean church, whose worship is conducted in Syriac, an Aramaic dialect, is based in Baghdad, but it has eparchies around the world. Shaleta headed the Eparchy of St. Peter the Apostle, which covers much of the western United States.
The Vatican’s announcement on Tuesday said Leo had accepted Shaleta’s resignation in February but hadn’t made a formal announcement then. It also clarified that Bishop Saad Hanna Sirop will be apostolic administrator until a new bishop is appointed.
After Shaleta’s arrest on Thursday, he spent four nights in jail before pleading not guilty to 15 felony counts on Monday. A local NBC station reported that the courtroom was so packed with Shaleta’s supporters that some had to wait in the hallway due to lack of space.
Pointing out that Shaleta was captured at the airport, San Diego District Attorney Joel Madero requested that Shaleta, whom h …