The Church has the authority to put these people in place. That's the point. If you do not recognize the authority, that is a rather new idea seeing as how even the Protestants understood and accepted apostolic succession. Don't deviate from the point with red herrings and pilpul.
Because they were given the authority by God.
On Earth as it is in Heaven...you think there's zero authority or hierarchy in Heaven?
From JESUS.
Read your Bible. Even the early Protestants understood apostolic succession. Only in modern times is that rejected entirely. You need to study more.
The Church has the authority to put these people in place. That's the point. If you do not recognize the authority, that is a rather new idea seeing as how even the Protestants understood and accepted apostolic succession. Don't deviate from the point with red herrings and pilpul.