“ive always thought it was sort counter productive to Christianity for the most devout to not marry and procreate.”
Just because a man is a priest does not mean he is the most devout compared to all laymen. Also, Jesus and Paul were celibate. Was anyone more devout than they were?
The first “Pope” was married.
Please, let’s leave Paul out of this! He was a Pharisee, which meant he had to be married. In fact, some people have suggested that the “thorn in the flesh” was his wife, LOL!
And Peter, the guy you claim as your first pope, was married.