Emanuel Hana Shaleta
Emanuel Hana Shaleta | |
|---|---|
| Eparch Emeritus of the Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of Saint Peter the Apostle of San Diego | |
| Church | Chaldean Catholic Church |
| Archdiocese | Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of Saint Peter the Apostle of San Diego |
| Appointed | August 9, 2017 |
| Installed | August 29, 2017 |
| Retired | March 10, 2026 |
| Predecessor | Sarhad Yawsip Jammo |
| Previous post |
|
| Orders | |
| Ordination | May 31, 1984 by John Paul II |
| Consecration | February 6, 2015 by Louis Raphaël I Sako, Shlemon Warduni, and Francis Y. Kalabat |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 11, 1956 Fishkhabour-Zakho, Iraq |
| Motto | Let Us Go To The House Of The Lord |
| Styles of Emanuel Hana Shaleta | |
|---|---|
| Reference style | |
| Spoken style | His Grace |
| Religious style | Eparch |
Emanuel Hana Shaleta (born November 11, 1956) is a Chaldean Catholic prelate who served as the Chaldean Catholic Eparch of Saint Peter the Apostle of San Diego from 2017 to 2026.
Biography
Shaleta was born in the village of Fishkhabour in Northern Iraq.
On May 31, 1984, Shaleta was ordained to the priesthood. Pope Francis appointed Shaleta eparch for the Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of Saint Peter the Apostle of San Diego on August 9, 2017.[1][2] On August 29, 2017, Shaleta was installed as eparch.[3]
In January 2026, Shaleta submitted his resignation in response to a canonical investigation ordered by the Vatican.[4] He is accused of embezzlement and improper behavior, including visits to Tijuana linked to prostitution.[5]
On March 5, 2026, Shaleta was arrested at San Diego International Airport as he tried to leave the United States.[6] He was charged with felony counts of embezzlement and money laundering. According to a report published by the Catholic news organization The Pillar, he is possibly the first sitting diocesan Catholic bishop arrested for felony financial crimes in the US.[7][8]
In February 2026, Pope Leo XIV accepted Shaleta's resignation as the bishop of the eparchy, and this was made public on March 10 when he appointed an apostolic administrator for the eparchy.[9]
See also
References
- ^ "Pope Names Bishop Emmanuel Challita as Bishop of Chaldean Eparchy in San Diego; and Bishop Frank Kalabat of Detroit as Apostolic Administrator of Eparchy in Toronto, Canada". Retrieved August 9, 2017.
- ^ "Resignations and Appointments, 09.08.2017". Retrieved August 9, 2017.
- ^ "Bishop". stpeterdiocese.org. Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of St. Peter the Apostle. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ^ "San Diego Chaldean bishop accused of embezzlement, brothel visits, amid Vatican investigation". The Pillar. 19 February 2026. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
- ^ "Money from the poor and visits to brothels: Rome investigates the Chaldean bishop of San Diego". INFOVATICANA. 2026-02-20. Retrieved 2026-02-23.
- ^ Vigdor, Neil. "Pope Accepts Resignation of U.S. Bishop Charged With Embezzlement". nytimes.com. The New York Times. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
- ^ "Bishop Shaleta arrested on charges of embezzlement, money laundering". The Pillar. 5 March 2026. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
- ^ Page, Eric S.; Ash, Allison (5 March 2026). "San Diego Chaldean bishop is arrested at airport, charged with financial crimes". NBC 7 San Diego. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
- ^ "Pope Leo XIV Accepts Resignation of Bishop Emanuel Shaleta of the Eparchy of Saint Peter the Apostle of San Diego; Appoints Bishop Saad Sirop Hanna as the Apostolic Administrator". usccb.org. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. March 10, 2026. Retrieved March 10, 2026.