[CynicalBear]

There wasn't even a single head of the church in Rome until at least the 3rd century.

A cursory study on the history of the title "pope" shows that.

The word pope derives from Greek πάππας meaning "Father". In the early centuries of Christianity, this title was applied, especially in the east, to all bishops and other senior clergy, and later became reserved in the west to the Bishop of Rome, a reservation made official only in the 11th century. [O'Malley, John W. (2009). A History of the Popes. Government Institutes. p. xv. ISBN 9781580512275.]

[HossB86]

There wasn't even a single head of the church in Rome until at least the 3rd century. A cursory study on the history of the title "pope" shows that.

The word pope derives from Greek πάππας meaning "Father". In the early centuries of Christianity, this title was applied, especially in the east, to all bishops and other senior clergy, and later became reserved in the west to the Bishop of Rome, a reservation made official only in the 11th century. [O'Malley, John W. (2009). A History of the Popes. Government Institutes. p. xv. ISBN 9781580512275.]

Hmmmm.

Wonder if that professional historian is giggling. Maybe a small smirk? Laughter?

Hoss

[Campion]

How do you get from the history of a title to the structure of church governance in Rome?

There wasn't even a single head of the church in Rome until at least the 3rd century.

Who wrote the Epistle of Clement?