One is not "above" the other. That's just fear mongering nonsense from prejudiced, ignorant anti-Catholics.
Of course one is above the other. In order to have ecclesiastical authority which you claim is the Hallmark of catholicism, a hierarchal order is imperative. Doctrines not found in scripture are the proof of this. Tradition became entrenched, the magisterium then made the tradition official. Without any reference to the Bible whatsoever.
Sure; this is why we reject any form of Protestantism, because all fail the test of allegiance to God’s Word in Holy Scripture, and the historical pedigree that the fathers always taught was necessary. Every heretic in the history of the world thumbed their nose at the institutional Church and went by Scripture alone. It is the heretical worldview to do so, precisely because they know they can’t prove that their views were passed down through history in an unbroken succession.
An unbroken succession of apostasy, which is why so many found it desirable to reform, but failing that, necessary to break away. As I said to MoG, the desire for a king, just as in ancient Israel, became a snare. It became as is accurately described in Revelation of Babylon the Great...
KJV Revelation 17:1-2
1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
2
With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
"International diplomacy" is one thing. Forcing secular armies to fight your battles, murder and decimate Christian communities, sick as Justinian, Clovis, Charlemagne, and numerous princes and rulers over centuries against any and all who refuse to bow before the king in Rome, from small hamlets to entire nations, is spiritual adultery. The kings have become your church's husband in preference to Jesus. Just like ancient Israel. God never intended Israel to have a king like other nations, much less His church.
And don't tell me apostasy was impossible because Christ promised the gates of hell shall not prevail against His church. They didn't. They're always been a remnant. Just as Obadiah saved 100 prophets in Jezebel's day, so they're had always been a remnant since the time of the apostles till today. Your claim of apostolic succession as a sign of truth and faithfulness is bogus.