Pope Gregory I (540-604 CE), a famous Christian leader encouraged accomodating pagan customs and beliefs. So if pagans worshipped a Tree or Spirit abiding in it, rather than shun the pagan worship, he urged priests to somehow link the worship to Jesus Christ, and allow them to continue their Tree or pagan idol worship.
In 1909, Pope Pius X first encouraged Bible study. For the first time, Catholics could now study the Bible for themselves and Catholicism returned to being a 'religion of the book' for the people
The institutional structure of Cao Dai is closely modeled after the hierarchical organization of the Roman Catholic Church. The administrative governance features a supreme leader known as the Giao Tong (equivalent to a Pope), followed by a legislative body of Cardinals, Archbishops, and Priests who manage the spiritual laws and temple networks. The administrative duties are uniquely divided across distinct branches tasked with judicial oversight, executive functions and mediumship.