I don't really like the title. Who, really, is going to stop Protestants from having an opinion on the new pope? The thought police???
The question should be phrased: "When should Catholics care about Protestant opinions regarding the new pope?"
I agree. Sorry, but every time I see something posted by the OP, I know that it’s got some barb against Catholicism, real or imagined (he’s hit a few mistakes over the years with pieces talking about gaming etc. which just had the word Catholic in the title).
I don't care when the opinions are of a libnut -- whether Catholic or not. So whatever Pelosi or Obama or Mahler say, I don't care, don't even read/listen. They may call themselves what they want, but they worship at the altar of Sacred liberalism
I've said before that I don't like the label "Protestant" -- it includes too many varying beliefs for a statement about "P" to make any sense at all. What is true for Adventists is not true for Lutherans etc. and even some Baptists don't want to be called "P"
Keeping that in mind, when a non-Catholic who truly believes in what he/she believes in has an opinion about the new pope, I am interested, I "care" -- whether that be a devout Christian like yourself, xzins or even a devout Moslem or Hindu or Sikh, I care because it comes from a religious angle. In particular I care solidly what a devout non-Catholic Christian honestly opines on the pope (let me clarify later what I mean by "honestly"), even if we differ solidly -- because at the core of it we are brothers in Christ, we believe in One God, FAther-Son-Holy Spirit, we believe that Jesus Christ is 100% God and 100% man who by His sacrifice redeemed the world and without whom none might be saved.
What I mean by "honestly" is without distorted opinions. For example, the media went ga-ga about "atrocities in Argentina" and the leftists media for instance huffpo or Gazeta Wyborcza in Poland headlined with "Argentine atrocities, did the Pope know about it?" -- accusing him, with no proof, and stating questions as a fact.
Many people, whether Catholic or non-Catholic do this and some spread these rumors as facts.
Even more believe these -- and it works both ways. I, for instance, did not know enough of my Lutheran and Methodist brethren before 2009 and had incorrect opinions of what they did believe in. And I know many of our non-Catholic friends have incorrect opinions of what we believe in -- ultimately it's like we are hitting each other over the head with clubs saying "in my dream, you were mean" ignoring reality (or ignorant of reality).
So when you, xzins, for instance, voice an opinion, I would listen. Perhaps you are wrong, perhaps not, but either way, jest warto i ważne :)