"Self-rigtheousness comes from each individual believer being his or her own "pope.""
Self-righteousness comes from each individual person, including believers, being his/her own god! You give "pope" too much credit. Self-righteousness is sin.
I don't give Pope too much credit. I used the word "pope" as a figurative stereotype meaning that the "truth" is reduced to personal opinion based on how each believer interprets the Scripture. The truth is then hinged on the interpretation of one sinner, his or her own, and no two people believe in the same thing. Thus, each individual presides over his or her own "church."