The letter, the drafting of which was approved by the synod assembly, will be discussed both during small group working sessions and among the entire assembly Oct. 23.

“Synodality helps us a lot because it is the communities that tell us how to be a church, rather than a bishop telling the people how to be church,” Cardinal Leonardo Ulrich Steiner of Manaus, Brazil, said.

Bishop Rolando Álvarez was not among the names of the priests listed. Álvarez was convicted of conspiracy and sentenced in February to 26 years in prison.

Two Vatican trials are coming to a head this week and both underscore Pope Francis’ power as an absolute monarch and the legal, financial and reputational problems that can arise when he wields it.

“It was a great blessing to be able to speak with him,” Sister Nabila Saleh said. “He gave us courage and the support of prayer.”

Joseph Czuba of Plainfield, Illinois, and his wife are members of St. Mary Immaculate Parish.