“Question: Who is the visible Head of the Church?
Answer: Our Holy Father the Pope, the Bishop of Rome, is the Vicar of Christ on earth and the visible Head of the Church. “
Very good. Visible. As in being able to be seen. The Vicar is the stand-in and the keeper of the keys while the Lord is absent. The scenario is completely unintelligable to modern Americans who have no idea of history. The steward holds the keys and performs the function of the Monarch while he is gone. He is not the head of the kingdom, yet, he is the visible head of the kingdom in the interim.
OK, the visible head.
Still, a head.
I do understand what a regent is. I just disagree that there is a regent in place, unless you might perhaps say the Holy Spirit is a type of regent, although I’ll tread carefully there.
John 16 -
” 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: “
But not a pope, no.
He did also leave us a church structure; we are to choose out for ourselves elders, also properly translated bishops, and they have authority and can exercise church discipline and so forth. But there is no allowance for a chief or head or ultimate bishop.