This is, I think, one of the big differences between Catholicism and Protestantism. Catholics affirm that God primarily works through secondary causes, and thus His authority is normally mediated through human institutions. Thus, we always owe *something* to those institutions, even when the people in them are corrupt (as they usually are). Protestantism, as far as I can tell, removes most of that mediation for a direct "me and God" approach to authority. This lends itself naturally to the classical liberal order that America was founded on.
Discussion
And why your pope is a satanic socialist.
Luther was right, and I want no part of catholicism, especially not contrived authority.
Even if the Pope is indeed a satanic socialist, that doesn't make him any less the vicar of Christ on earth. The person and the office are not the same thing, and Christ can work through the most degenerate people.
Yes, He can even work through this idiot.
But, the pope is a fictional position. I have and hopefully will submit to a pastor of a local church, as a sheep submits to a Shephard. There is no need for anything more than that.