Exactly Patriot, it is for us with free will to choose our relationship with God. There was no Pope until 300 AD, I guess that windbag forgot about that. LOL and people did fine that chose to follow the right path.
St. Peter was the first Pope. Christ called him Peter because petros means "rock", and He said "On this rock I will build my Church, and to you I will give the keys to the kingdom of heaven." It was entrusted to Peter to safeguard sound doctrine. Christ willed that a man within history would continue to safeguard His doctrine, and this will did not end with Peter's death.
Patriot, but Jesus said you come through him to his father. he did not mention anyone else.
Jesus chose twelve Apostles, did He not? He decided that it would be best if the knowledge of His Word came to others through people rather than directly from Himself. Otherwise He would have appeared directly to each and every one of us.
God created the world, and He wills to make use of His creatures to accomplish His will. This includes (especially!) the spreading of the faith in Him.
So while it is of course true that only through Jesus Christ can we come to the Father, it is likewise true that, because Jesus wills it, through others and with the help of others, we can come to Jesus. This includes the safeguarding of the faith.
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