“We don’t need a leader on earth.”
God thought otherwise.
“We have one in Heaven.”
And He gave us one on earth.
“If you read the New Testament, you will notice the lack of a centralized governance.”
Actually no. I have read the New Testament - probably much more often than you have and in greater detail most likely. Governance was in the hands of the Apostles and their successors - the bishops. That’s never changed.
“The Holy Spirit is to guide us not some a Pope.”
The Holy Spirit does guide us - through the Church and the Pope.
AMEN.