The doubters on this thread should read Eusebius’ “History of the Church” written in AD 325. One of its main themes is Apostolic Succession, and it is painstakingly detailed.
The lineage of the Gospel of Grace begins with Abel (Heb. 11) and the faith which he was given by God. Evidently we predate Rome by some 10,000 years.
That Rome relies upon a string of men which include John XII (16 year old boy) and Benedict IX (11 year old boy) to find significance demonstrates that it does not understand salvation as a gift of God.