Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of the high-ranking leader of St. Peter Chaldean Catholic Cathedral in El Cajon, the Vatican announced Tuesday — one day after Bishop Emmanuel Shaleta entered a not guilty plea to 17 felony charges alleging he embezzled more than $270,000 in church funds.

The Vatican said in its daily bulletin that Leo accepted Shaleta's resignation under the code of canon law for Eastern Rite churches, which allows the pope to act when a bishop steps down. Leo had actually agreed to the resignation when Shaleta submitted it in February, but the announcement was held until Tuesday, according to the Vatican embassy in Washington, to avoid interfering with the ongoing police investigation.

Leo named Bishop Saad Hanna Sirop as temporary administrator of the Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of St. Peter the Apostle of San Diego.

Prosecutors allege that Shaleta, 69, diverted rent payments from a tenant of the church's social hall — monthly installments of more than $30,000 — directly to himself over a period of eight months, with the missing payments totaling approximately $272,000. Deputy District Attorney Joel Madero said Shaleta moved money from a church account designed to assist the needy to an operations account as a means of concealing the alleged theft. When a financial adviser flagged the discrepancies, Shaleta offered explanations that prosecutors called "completely unreasonable," then removed the adviser's access to the accounts.

Shaleta was arrested March 5 at San Diego International Airport as he was preparing to board a flight to Germany. Authorities say a search of his luggage turned up nearly $10,000 in dollars and euros. He was booked into county jail on $125,000 bail. If released, he must wear a GPS ankle monitor, have no access to church funds, and his passport will remain with investigators. During a recent Mass before his arrest, Shaleta told his congregation he had never "abused any penny of the church money."

The San Diego County Sheriff's Office said its investigation began last August when a church representative contacted investigators and provided documents showing potential embezzlement. The Chaldean Catholic community in El Cajon — one of the largest outside the Middle East — has been closely watching the case. Defense attorney Sharon Appelbaum has emphasized her client's longstanding community ties and noted that dozens of supporters attended his arraignment Monday at the El Cajon Courthouse.