The psychopaths and power lusters of any era will try and take over any institutions that have control or influence over people. In a bygone era, the Catholic church was socially the most powerfull institution and thus taken over by psychopaths by subverting what Jesus taught. God is not a being, God is being and the whole "skydaddy" concept, with the pope as his unquestionable authority on earth, was always a scam. Our modern psychopaths pulled the same trick and now make claims to speak for The Science(tm) and also claim unquestionable authority, e.g. fauci.

Fortunately, this obvious attempt at a regression to an earlier state of social control won't work as many people are on to the trick. Moreover, you don't need a pope or pastor to perceive the power of being. It is everywhere, within you and without you.