Peter? The first pope?

That's not true. The Roman Catholic Church emerged after the Great Schism where the Christian faith split into the Eastern Orthodox tradition and the Catholic tradition. While Christianity in Rome had used certain subterfuges to obscure their faith (to prevent being killed), they were and are Christian. The Catholic Church like the Orthodox church is a descendant of the original groups of Christians. To say they have no relationship is incorrect.

Let me guess you are catholic right? Sorry to tell you but that is the truth. Study some history and read your bible and you might get a clue. After the apostles deaths they split apart into factions and sub-factions. It wasn't until the Council of Nicaea under the direction of Roman Emperor Constantine I in A.D. 325 that the catholic church began to take form. They still used all the same pagan dates like winter solstice to celebrate Christian dates on that aren't even called out to be celebrated in the bible. They also used the same statues of Diana to worship Mary who was also not called out to be worshiped and is against the commandments. It would be no different than if the government said from now on everyone will be Buddhist and than saying that church is a direct connection to Buddhism by the order of the government. The only relationship it has is it fulfilled the prophecies in the bible.

regardless, I was answering the question