[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

I think if you just right pope by itself, not followed by a name, you don't capitalize. Example: "The pope is travelling all week."

Whereas, you would capitalize it if it had his name after pope. Example: Muslims would love to slip Pope Benedict's throat."

Another example would be "The responding unit was Officer Johnson." and "The officer responded to the 911 call."

I reserve the right to be wrong.

[OldFriend]

You are write.....

[presidio9]

If you are referring to a specific pope, as in "The Pope bought a hotdog," the it is a proper noun, and it is Capitalized. If you are talking about about popes in general, "No pope has invoked infallability in the last half century," then you are correct: no capitalization.