re: What are the views of the Pope? Non-Catholic Christians, Non-Christians and Women

It's a religion like many others.

The Pope is first among equals.

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convert?

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From full-blown atheism to agnosticism, yes.

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"Cradle" Orthodox here and wish we'd let go of the purity fights and insecure chest-thumping.

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As do I. Consequently, the least amount of "chest-thumping" I saw in Christianity as an athiest-turned-agnostic was from the Orthodox. They just kept their heads down, and do what they've done, for, for the most part, mellenia. I think you're failing to understand the context: I (a board member) was asked a specific question with everyone else. Stop calling it "chest thumping" when it's people answering an extremely subjective question with extremely subjective answers. Tone down the haughtiness a notch.

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Tradition is alive. It doesn't exist in the past. The holy spirit flows through it. It's not static.

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Certainly.

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The church evolves with cultural values.

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Unequivocal nonsense. Maybe, maybe, in terms of minor, unsubstantial matters, but evolving with cultural values? That's how you wind up with 100k protestant denominations. Not even the most liberal of Catholic Popes believes in changing scriptural truths with cultural values. Nonsense.

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Overzealous converts projecting their dualistic western minds, brain-dead fundamentalism, odd nostalgia for a fairytale Christian political kingdom, and pedestalized "American Christian values" offer up an incredibly narrow interpretation and practice of what is actually a quite spacious faith.

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Inapplicable. See above. Protestantism idealism in my childhood and teen years drove me to atheism for these precise reasons.

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Universalism is well within the bounds of Orthodoxy.

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Oh boy. Lots to unpack here on such a profoundly generalized statement. While universalism is a noble, Christian thing to hope for, that even lucifer himself will be redeemed to Christ, for any Christian leader to espouse it — certainly a "vicar" of the largest Christian church in the world— is irresponsible at best. Let's not get it twisted: in no shape, form or fashion is Christian universalism taught in the eastern Orthodox church in any capacity — and spare me the David Bentley Hart quotes. He's a heretic and a proud, proud man who thinks he's smarter than everyone, but a heretic nonetheless. It is a doctrine much more prevalent in the western church. Is it the "Christian" thing to hope even Pol Pot is redeemed? Sure, I guess, but to make such a generalized, borderline deceptive statement about universalism being "well within the bounds of Orthodoxy" is irresponsible at best, and a lie at worst.

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And while political philosophies operate on a different plane than theosis, left-wing politics do not inherently contradict Christian life, particularly when rooted in protecting human rights and fighting oppression.

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And now we get to the root of such heretical statements. I smell what you're stepping in now. I'll refute: Gay sex, debauchery, murdering children in the womb, and the left's many other vices trump any shallow, "feel good," do-nothing, ineffective "human rights and oppression" measures when it comes to aligning with Orthodox, Catholic, and mainline protestant Christian truths. Full stop. I'll go even further: They're antithetical and incompatible with Christianity itself,
and it's funny how you - whether intentionally or not (my guess is the former)- by default label everyone not left as not valuing human rights and oppression. In other words, most Christians.

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"Cradle" Orthodox

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In my journey from atheism to Orthodoxy over the last 17 years, having dozens upon dozens of cradle Catholics in my family (and as many protestant denominations as a Chinese buffet has breaded chicken), both the former and latter tend to be some of the most average, dull, ill-educated, and complacent uninteresting Christians to ever engage with.

Your borderline, if not definitively, heretical statements and nonsensical admiration of leftists as "human rights advocates and fighters of oppression," coupled with your obvious insults and admonishment of western Christians, and the entire word salad really, has a smell, and it stinks from far away.

I don’t think he will last long at Kentucky.

I’m Presbyterian, but probably more Anglican at heart. In short, a true 16th century Reformed Catholic.

I want a pope that will strive for ecumenism. One that will offer an olive branch to Protestant denominations who have worked with Catholicism in the past.

On the papacy itself, I agree with the recent Vatican study on it. It got too powerful during the Middle Ages and it never let go. Can you believe your church said that? It did.

Are you a practicing Catholic?

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I want a pope that will strive for ecumenism. One that will offer an olive branch to Protestant denominations who have worked with Catholicism in the past.

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Are you prepared to accept the Real Presence in the Eucharist?

Ecumenism is a tool of the devil.

There are 1.4B people in the world are Catholic.

I think some non Catholics respect the position, but they don't look to him as a leader for them.

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Ecumenism is a tool of the devil.

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You disappoint me. Get your mind out of the Baptist Bible belt that you’re clearly so accustomed to fighting against.

He is no closer to or loved more by God than any man waking the earth.