[ealgeone]

Not at all. Nowhere does the catechism say “the pope is Christ on earth.”

I presume you know what vicar means.

#936 “The Lord made St. Peter the visible foundation of his Church. He entrusted the keys of the Church to him. The bishop of the Church of Rome, successor to St. Peter, is head of the college of bishops, the Vicar of Christ and Pastor of the universal Church on earth.”

[Wyrd bið ful aræd]

"vic·ar

ˈvikər/Submit

noun

(in the Roman Catholic Church) a representative or deputy of a bishop."

From the Latin "vicarious," ie second-hand. Christ's chief agent or representative.

The representative of Christ is not Christ Himself. To make the argument that Catholics believe the pope is Christ on earth is astoundingly absurd -- and DOA.