I find it hard to believe that the successors to the Apostles have no power over the laity to command obedience. I am not saying it is an all-encompassing power to do whatever they wish, but certainly their authority which is by virtue of their valid succession is more than an academic or administrative one.
They are not Successors to the Apostles. A Successor to the Apostles is strictly a bishop with ordinary jurisdiction.
210. The bishops are the successors of the Apostles and are placed by Divine law over the individual churches, which they govern with ordinary authority under the authority of the Roman Pontiff. They are freely appointed by the Pope. If some college has received the right to elect the bishop, Canon 321 shall be observed, which requires the absolute majority of votes of all those who have the right to vote. (Canon 329.)
213. Every candidate to the episcopate, even those elected, presented or designated by the civil government,needs the canonical provision or institution in order to be the lawful bishop of a vacant diocese. The only one to institute a bishop is the Roman Pontiff. (Canon 332.)
But regardless of the above, even a true successor to the Apostles is not endowed with any kind of dominative power over the laity. His power over the laity is that of his jurisdiction. His jurisdictional power is the power to make general laws and to judge and punish in accordance with those laws.