No visible head? - Lay Investiture crisis

Quite simply, the Church has been without a visible head hundreds of times.  The Church is without a visible head every time the Pope dies.  This situation has lasted for years.  By the way, here is an interesting quote from the Lay Investiture crisis (1075-1122).  During this crisis, the evil King of Germany, Henry IV, instituted an Antipope (who was supported by many German Bishops).  Henry also appointed his own Bishops who were also subject to the Antipope.  The result was two Bishops in most dioceses and massive confusion.

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. 8, 1910, “Investitures,” p. 86: “There was now much confusion on all sides…. Many dioceses had two occupants.  Both parties called their rivals perjurers and traitors…”

The point is that, while we are dealing with an unprecedented apostasy, the Church has seen confusing times before, including those in which the true hierarchy was not easily ascertainable.