At the start of the conference on Thursday, five victims told painful stories of abuse and cover-up and the pope said they could expect concrete measures to come out of the meeting.
Victims groups have complained that while some priests who sexually abused children were eventually disciplined by the Church and sentenced by civil authorities, the bishops who either enabled the abuse or it covered up have not been punished.
In what appeared to be a reference to the McCarrick case, Cardinal Gracias said bishops should "fraternally correct" each other.
"Do we really engage in an open conversation and point out honestly to our brother bishops or priests when we notice problematic behaviour in them?" he said.
Before proof of McCarrick's child sex abuse decades ago was discovered last year, his sexual misconduct with adult men studying for the priesthood and his abuse of power over them was an open secret in the U.S. Church.
Critics have asked how McCarrick could have risen to become archbishop of Washington, D.C. from 2001-2006 while many allegedly knew of his misconduct with adults.
Pope Francis ordered a "thorough study" last year of all documents concerning McCarrick. The four U.S. dioceses where he served - New York, Metuchen, Newark, and Washington - have launched independent investigations.
The conference ends on Sunday when the pope will make a final speech. The Vatican says it will then formulate follow-up measures to make sure all bishop return home knowing how to put anti-abuse procedures into place.
