I’m a cradle Catholic, too.
We were taught that God was omnipotent, and that He is fair and just in all things.
Notice that in the Creed it says that Jesus went into the netherworld for 3 days. Why do you think He did?
A fair and just God would save those souls who had never heard His name through no fault of their own.
ahem.....they died BEFORE HE was BORN!!! HELLO!!! Of COURSE they didn’t hear about him!!! After 33 A.D., there is almost NO excuse unless you are a New Guinea tribe that has never heard of HIM!!!