Don’t quite follow, if that is the case why then is not the pope the equal of all the bishops and why we do have cardinals?
Because the apostles were all equal. God hates democracy. 
But it wasn’t Petrus Romanus…
It was Panulirus Interruptus!
Panulirus Interruptus!
“Knock knock”
“Who’s there”
“Panulirus Interruptus!”
“Panulirus Interrup–”
“Dominus vobiscum!”
Damn your eyes. Now I’m going to be hearing that guy’s voice intoning Latin for the rest of the evening.
I love how, in our lifetimes, we’ll get to see the squirming of those who believe this stuff try to explain why the prophecy didn’t come true. Benedict’s only got a decade or two left, if that. So by the time the Playstation 6 comes out, this whole silly thing should be done with, unless somebody suddenly “discovers” another lost line or two of the prophecy
All priests are part of the apostolic succession, though they are not authorized to pass it on to another. (I’ve seen a plaque in a local Episcopalian church showing a sort of genealogical chart of the pastor’s apostolic succession back to one of the apostles – even the Anglican Communion subscribes to this.)
Which, incidentally, is why Anglican priests who convert to Catholicism remain priests, recognized by the Catholic church. Though the situation is currently a bit muddled by the fact that Anglicans recognize female priests and bishops, while Catholics do not.
I think the same is true of Lutherans, but not most other Protestants.
The last pope will the one elected when Catholics have lost interest in the whole thing.
greenlife, you have another thread that is still active. Please post to that one instead of clogging up this forum with unintelligible screeds.