[boatbums]

The Pope is more gracious toward those outside his denomination than most Roman Catholics that I’ve engaged with here on Free Republic. It’s nice to hear such a generous sentiment from the Church of Rome.

But since the Pope is not speaking ex cathedra it's his own personal opinion and doesn't "count" according to some of those same people you speak of. It is remarkable in a way how much has changed since Pope Boniface VIII in 1302 issued his bull, Unam Sanctam. Under it he proclaimed that ONLY those who were in submission to the Pope of Rome and belong to the Roman Catholic Church could be saved. No one else outside of the RCC had any hope of salvation. It declares:

We declare, say, define, and pronounce [ex cathedra] that it is absolutely necessary for the salvation of every human creature to be subject to the Roman Pontiff.”

"If, therefore, the Greeks or others say that they are not committed to Peter and to his successors, they necessarily say that they are not of the sheep of Christ, since the Lord says that there is only one fold and one shepherd (Jn.10:16). Whoever, therefore, resists this authority, resists the command of God Himself. " — Pope Boniface VIII, Unam Sanctam (Promulgated November 18, 1302) http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/b8-unam.html

This was but one of the many such papal encyclicals pronounced by Rome over the centuries. One of the latest ones, Lumen Gentium, takes an entirely different tack, which just could disprove that the Roman Catholic Church has always and everywhere believed the same things, that the Pope is infallible or that the Church never contradicts herself. From http://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2011/09/contradictions-in-roman-catholicism.html:

RCC: 846 How are we to understand this affirmation, often repeated by the Church Fathers?[335] Re-formulated positively, it means that all salvation comes from Christ the Head through the Church which is his Body:…Hence they could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it or to remain in it.[336] [This is open to interpretation by Roman Catholics, who may see it as absolving those who know what she claims, but are are convinced she is not, but have been baptized in Christian faith, while some others understand this as teaching that all must die as confessing Catholics. Yet in reality few Catholics evidently live and die having truly trusting the Lord Jesus to save them by His blood, and not trusting in the power of Rome or their own merits. May that ever be my faith in the mercy of God.]

..there are many who honor Sacred Scripture, taking it as a norm of belief and a pattern of life, and who show a sincere zeal. They lovingly believe in God the Father Almighty and in Christ, the Son of God and Saviour. (Cf. Jn. 16:13) They are consecrated by baptism, in which they are united with Christ. They also recognize and accept other sacraments within their own Churches or ecclesiastical [Protestant] communities…

• They also share with us in prayer and other spiritual benefits. Likewise we can say that in some real way they are joined with us in the Holy Spirit, for to them too He gives His gifts and graces whereby He is operative among them with His sanctifying power. Some indeed He has strengthened to the extent of the shedding of their blood. — LUMEN GENTIUM: 16.

• …those who are baptized in these communities are, by Baptism, incorporated in Christ and thus are in a certain communion, albeit imperfect, with the Church.” “All who have been justified by Faith in Baptism are incorporated into Christ: they therefore have a right to be called Christians, and with good reason are accepted as brothers by the children of the Catholic Church.” — http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20000806_dominus-iesus_en.html

Thankfully, there ARE several Catholics on Free Republic who, though we may disagree on various topics, fully accept us as genuine brothers and sisters in Christ and, for that, I am grateful. Siblings don't always get along but it shouldn't change our bond of love nor the oneness we have with Jesus Christ as our Chief Shepherd, our Lord and Savior.

[daniel1212]

Well, there are different sects of Roman Catholics, and at least the Traditional ones recognize the uncertain sound the the modern church of Rome has sounded, (http://peacebyjesuscom.blogspot.com/2011/09/contradictions-in-roman-catholicism.html; http://www.the-pope.com/wvat2tec.html) though the former version is more manifestly in doctrinally error.