Get this straight. The pope is the head of the Catholic Church which includes about a billion people, and is a few thousand of the 400-600,000 priests and nuns. Furthermore, since the 1970s, laymen have taken over most of the positions in parishes and diocesan offices and chanceries. In terms of “running the church on a day to day basis, lay people have the leading roles. Furthermore, it is not a simple pyramid organization. It is a “federation” of sort not only with thousands of dioceses but hundred of religious orders who are only generally under the authority of the Vatican “departments.” Many priests in the parishes of a diocese are members of religious order and they are directly under their “superior” In matters involving these people, the diocese must work with the order. It is a bit like having an Air Force officer working on an Army base. A general is still above an lieutenant, but the general may have to work with another general. The head of a religious order being pretty much the equal of a bishop. Since Vatican II, as a general matter, “religious” priests are more liberal than “secular” priests (who work for the bishop. The Jesuits are VERY liberal and it has been many since the popes could depend on them.
You can bet if a General in our services learned of a serious crime in the ranks it would be addressed and dealt with once found out. Abu G. comes to mind...
At any rate, people within the chain of command within the catholic church did more than drop the ball, they dug a hole and covered it up... But I do understand the people wanting to protect the pope, as well as those under him in authority. The fallout, if he did know, would be devastating to the catholic church especially financially as the costs for suits etc. already have cost them greatly....money which could have been used for the poor etc..... wonder if these pedophiles ever took that into account while doing their criminal deed? Let alone the impact on families the children and the whole of those within the church as well as without.