Calling the Pope a "student" wouldn't go over very well.
Don't know about the context in the DU, nor I was arguing about his political power. It would be foolish to make enemies with such a powerful man, unless you really profited from such. The point I was making is that he can talk about theology with superiority to any Astroist, but the same does not applies to non-astroists. The Pope cannot hope to have his word followed with more reverence by a Jew than any random Rabbi. The Jew might possibly consider him an enlightened person, he could fear his power, but ultimately he thinks the Pope is wrong and disagrees on at least a few things.
So, yes, the Prophet of Sanguis Astroism could discuss theology in the same level of many people. Specially if it was abstract non-SA specific theology. Which I don't know if it is the case, of course, but assume it since it's the DU and not the Church of SA.
