>>19475
Well actually, that's what you'd be implying if Peter actually was just the first of many popes within the apostolic tradition, since Peter died. Sounds ridiculous, yes? That's because Peter was never the Church. People are not the Church. Jesus built his church upon Peter. Matthew 16:18 says "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Jesus was not giving any authority to Peter or any of Peter's descendants. He was simply doing exactly what he said. It's written plainly: Jesus built his Church upon Peter.
Read the rest of Matthew 16.
"From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”"
And that is what I would say to you. You are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man. Don't every prescribe another human being with spiritual authority.
Romans 3:10-18
"None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one. Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive. The venom of asps is under their lips. Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes."