What caused the bishop of Rome, as opposed to the ones in Constantinople, Antioch, Alexandria, or other key cities, to gain such influence? What events might have ended differently if the seat of ecclesiastical power had been in the East?

Critical response 5

What caused the bishop of Rome, as opposed to the ones in Constantinople, Antioch, Alexandria, or other key cities, to gain such influence? What events might have ended differently if the seat of ecclesiastical power had been in the East?