Except that isn’t how Catholicism works.
If the Pope says it, you have to follow it. There is little choice if you wish to remain Catholic. That is the great strength, and the great weakness, of Catholicism. It becomes a situation where you have to follow the Pope.
In the Catholic religion, he is the Vicar of Christ. In other words, he is the King’s representative. He may be wrong, but in the old Imperial Roman law, you HAVE to do what he says. No matter what. There was no appeal process once the vicar (or regent) has spoken other than to wait for the real King/Emperor to return.
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (Benedict XVI):
"Not all moral issues have the same moral weight as abortion and euthanasia. For example, if a Catholic were to be at odds with the Holy Father on the application of capital punishment or on the decision to wage war, he would not for that reason be considered unworthy to present himself to receive Holy Communion. While the Church exhorts civil authorities to seek peace, not war, and to exercise discretion and mercy in imposing punishment on criminals, it may still be permissible to take up arms to repel an aggressor or to have recourse to capital punishment. There may be a legitimate diversity of opinion even among Catholics about waging war and applying the death penalty, but not however with regard to abortion and euthanasia."
http://www.priestsforlife.org/magisterium/bishops/04-07ratzingerommunion.htm
“Except that isn’t how Catholicism works. If the Pope says it, you have to follow it.”
Others have already taken issue with this. I just want to add my “Sorry, but that’s not correct at all. Not even a little.”