Who determines who is the Pope of the Catholic Church? The Catholic Church itself or..... you, perhaps?
You?
Do YOU accept Francis as the legitimate pope of the Roman Catholic church to whom you must be in subjection at the risk of your eternal salvation?
The college of cardinals?
Oh, and BTW, does the Holy Spirit guide the college of cardinals in the selection of the new pope?
“Who determines who is the Pope of the Catholic Church? The Catholic Church itself or..... you, perhaps?”
Well that depends on who had the money, power, or threat of death at the time. While I’m flattered that you think I have that much power I can promise you it wasn’t me. I’m a born again saved Christian my picks would have to be a Bible believing appointment, not a man made tradition follower.
Sergius III was appointed by Marozia and her mother Theodora
John X made pope by Theodora smothered to death by Marozia
Marozia then raised to the papacy John XI who was her own illegitimate son
Benedict IX made pope @ 12 yoa through a money deal with the powerful families of Rome.
Clement II appointed pope by Emperor Henry VIII of Germany because the Emperor couldn’t find any clergy in Rome that wasn’t on the take or being bought off and guilty of fornication
Hildebrand later to become pope Gregory VII appointed four of the previous popes
1049-1054 Leo IX
1055-1057 Victor II
1057-1058 Stephen IX
1059-1061 Nicolas II
1061-1073 Alexander II
1073-1085 Gregory VII
Considering the horrible behavior of some of the previous popes and the current pope I would say most are appointed by Satan.