Sorry. I couldn't help but hope that these first two steps might lead to something in Biblical teaching as well, but I suppose I should know better. First, the Pope is a higher critic himself; and second, Catholics have sort of adopted higher criticism as a reason to reject "sola scriptura," so now they think they have to defend it.
I think they've painted themselves into the corner on a bunch of things, but are blind to it, because they are what they are. I think some of them have some niggling doubts & it makes them unnaturally defensive. Those who defend the Church with more rigor than they do the faith are the ones I worry most about.