In defense of the Catholic Church, it was the first one and only one going back to Christ turning it over to Peter.
Other branches popped out in fact over parts of Church doctrine they kind of felt they did not want to follow.
England created their version due to wanting divorce as an example.
Martin Luther had authority issues.
I can go on and on down the line.
The ONE thing that makes all the odd branches acceptable IMO is the core that “We are not worthy, only say the word and I shall be healed” ... Accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior for our salvation...
Without Christ who are any of us to be before God or be counted worthy to enter Heaven, right? :-)
Catholics were not around during Christ time. The word is not even in the bible and neither is the pope and he’s not the vicar of Christ, no one is. Have faith in Christ only, none other, no praying to Mary, Saints ETC. Call no one father except GOD.
There is something else, a frame of mind that God can accept to be true, a confession, not just a profession:
"I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3,5 AV)
One must turn to God from sin, its idols, and idolatry; believing on Jesus, Lord and Messiah alone, and be credited with His righteousness, as He was credited with our sins and punished by God for them, such that The Father might reconcile a believer to Himself for ever, based on faith alone, justified at once from the foreseen moment of true belief on the faith and work of The Only Begotten Son substituting for us, and our past never again remembered.
This is the true gospel--there is no other version of it.