It just so happens that in "the bible", Jesus specifically states that PETER and HIS successors will be the spokesman for the church AFTER Christ is gone. (Peter became the first bishop of Rome...guess who holds the title NOW?) That's the section you Protestants like to ignore, while nevertheless complaining that Catholics pay no attention to the bible.
Matthew 16:18-19
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Mat 16:18-19
Sorry I don’t see Christ creating a special office of Pope or any mention of his successors. I think based solely on that passage it requires a tortured hermeneutic to support papal authority.
But that’s the dilemma isn’t it. The Pope claims that’s what it means and it means that what he says it means it means. If biblical authority is used to create papal authority then which authority is the highest authority? Or when does the Pope have the authority to supersede biblical authority? As a reformed protestant I realize that all earthly authority must submit to God’s authority, not vise versa.