A vicar is not a substitute for Christ, he is a substitute for Peter, prince of the Apostles, Jesus’ favorite, the first Apostle to see him after the resurrection, you know, the one who walked on water and raised the dead, the one who declared that he was the rock “Cephas”, on which he would build his church. There is no denying it. Only James and John were as close to Jesus as Peter.
Deny what? That somehow this friendship made him into a “pope”? Sure, I would deny it. There is no such Scriptural statement in existence. The Roman organization has fashioned an extra-biblical history to match its own fanciful imaginings. And, Paul is the one selected to teach you and I. Peter to the Jews, Paul to the Gentiles.
You may wish to consider the writings of the NT in total and notice Paul penned 14 of the 27 books. Peter, but 2. Paul is far and away the premier Apostle, the man who publicly rebuked Peter (Gal.). He is the one who spent 3 years with Jesus in Arabia, alone, mentored personally. When you get your arms around Romans 9, let me know.
Do you believe that accepting Peter as the initial official authority is a necessary condition for receiving the grace of forgiveness? Will denying the primacy of Peter condemn an sinner? I invite any professing Catholic to answer because I’ve never, in my life, gotten anyone to answer these questions.