Kennedy and Catholicism

John F. Kennedy became the first Catholic president in 1961. He was also the youngest person to be elected and unfortunately he was also the youngest to die. On November 22, 1963 John F. Kennedy was assassinated while riding in his car. That was just some background information on the President, but what I am primarily focusing on is Kennedy's Catholicism.

I remember learning that people were worried that if Kennedy was elected as President, it would be as if they elected the Pope to run the United States. Of course over time, people realized that this was not true and he ended up being one of the greatest presidents of the United States. I see why people would think that if Kennedy was elected, it almost be like the Pope running the white house because the pope is the head of the Catholic Church, but still that does not mean that Kennedy would have taken the orders of the Pope to run the United States. Again, as I have previously stated, I do not understand why people put so much emphasis on what religion as President is. Sometimes it does matter because his or her religion may shape their opinion about certain issues, but I just look at their opinions and not their religion.