Isabella,

Thanks for reaching out.

I have not read the book but perhaps one of my colleagues has.  Perhaps in considering this division you can telescope out for a moment and consider how you would establish a church if you were Christ.

• How could you ensure its place and visibility to the world, or
• How could there be a distinguishing mark that can give the brand authenticity?

For Catholics, that is the Papacy.  We recognize the marks of the church as One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic, but implicit in these marks is the need for a unifying element, that being Christ himself, inasmuch as He installed a vicar, through Simon Peter, who alone holds the keys that belong to Christ himself.  That office remains with the Catholic Church to this day, despite the many weak men who have occupied it (Christ clearly used Peter to show us the gift did not depend on the man).

Every organization has a single leader, if only in name, just consider every political institution and ask why it is so — it is because it is necessitated by nature.  Democracies still have a singular head as a functionary.  Furthermore, Christ is the King, the supreme ruler also requires a prime minister to adjudicate his dealings in the earthly realm.  This in no way diminishes his authority but gives it a placeholder amongst men.

This is the ultimate area you must research, the need for a Supreme Pontiff, and the Catholic claim to the papacy.

I am confident when you hear all the arguments, and keep logic foremost in your mind, you will see the choice is clear.

Just an afterthought, try Taylor Marshall’s “The Eternal City”, for a biblical basis for Rome being the center of Christianity; it is not an apologetic for the papacy, per se, but I believe it gives greater biblical context to why the papacy is in Rome.

Peace and God bless you in your quest,

Bob Kirby