The Apostles predated (New Testament) Scripture, and NT Scripture predates the RCC. The RCC has counted generations of tradition as it evolved as to be equal to Scripture, and sadly some of it is not supported by Scripture. Clearly seeing this method of inventing history is one of the benefits of the heresy of the, what did you label it? proddy uprising, you know, where common folk could read the Bible.
The huge numbers of the RCC do not impress. The Church of the Bible is not the Roman Catholic Church, but is the bride of Christ, Christians. We are not a church of one, and Jesus is happy to include Catholics that are Christians, confused as some are.
If a believer will study the Scriptures, the believer will recognize the counterfeit.
The Apostles appointed successors. They are the men chosen to have the fullness of the Priesthood of Jesus Christ. They exist in an unbroken line through today. The Apostolic succession is the heart of Our Lord’s promise to us that the Church would prevail.
You appear to deny that the Apostles had the authority to appoint successors. Is that what you believe?