In a whole section referring to Peter and Peter's revelation via. God the Father, Jesus would make a statement "You are rock, and on myself I'm going to build my church"? Ludicrous.
Of huge significance is the fact that Christ changes Simon bar-Jona's name from Simon to Cephas (Rock). Such a God-given change of name occurs VERY RARELY (I think only four times, Abram-Abraham, Sarai-Sarah, Jacob-Israel, and Simon-Cephas, but I'm away from reference material so can't check). ALL of the name changes happen when God makes a promise to the re-named individual.
Since that change of name occurs in the same sentence in which Christ pronounces on what (whom) he plans to build his church, it makes sense that the two are related.
Sorry, bub, but the Catholic interpretation just makes a lot more sense.
And that leaves out the whole other line of evidence of Christ's giving Cephas "the keys of heaven", which, in Biblical terms, meant that Christ had appointed Cephas as the steward of His Kingdom.
John 21:
[15] When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs."
[16] A second time he said to him, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep."
[17] He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep.