Christians, answer this!?

Why is there such nonsensical institutionalism behind catholicism? i mean look at the pope, he has all that garb, but what he says is hardly something youd expect from a guy thats supposed to lead a billion people. I mean why cant people just read the bible and use Jesus as a role model for things that he said and really did, rather than focus on "miracles" in order to build faith. why cant faith be built on real things like Jesus' love and compion for fellow beings?