However, having done the keyword search in the NT of the KJV, I find multiple times when the Apostles tell believers to follow them, or even to follow the Church:
1 Corinthians 11:1
Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
Acts 13:43 Converts follow Paul & Barnabas
1 Corinthians 4:16 Paul saying "follow me" again
1 Thessalonians 1:6 "Be followers of US, and of the Lord
1 Thessalonians 2:14 They became "followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus"
I could go on and on -- many more citations -- but I won't weary you. Or weary myself: besides, I've got to go to bed.
This doesn't focus on the Papacy by name, but it does directly speak about the necessity of Apostolic leadership in the Church. Bottom line: follow the guy that's following the Lord.
Find me “Pope” and “Catholic”
Nothing you cited changes anything.
Of course we are supposed to follow those who worship Jesus and spread his teachings. That doesn’t lead to let us create an earthly bureaucracy and call it infallible and appoint a human who will talk to Jesus for us (all of which does not comport to anything Jesus taught)
I appreciate your charitable demeanor and consideration that Non-Catholic Christians ARE really Christians. You say that this is a "doctrine of my church". In light of that, how does a Catholic explain the supposedly "infallible" statements from Popes such as:
“We declare, say , define, and pronounce that it is absolutely necessary for the salvation of every human creature to be subject to the Roman Pontiff.” Pope Boniface VIII, Unam Sanctam (1302 AD)
Can such a declaration just be ignored? Was Pope Boniface saying something that is NOT true or is it just not true anymore and the Catholic Church changed her mind? I am not trying to play any game here. I just wonder how Catholics can say all "true" Christians must follow the Pope to be saved but then concede that non-Catholics can also be saved who don't follow the Pope of Rome? How is this not a contradiction?