Is it permissible to perform the absentee funeral prayer (Salat al-Gha'ib) for the Pope?

It is not permissible to pray over a disbeliever, by the consensus of the people of knowledge, due to Allah's saying: "And never (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) pray for any of them who dies, nor stand by his grave. Certainly, they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger, and died while they were Fasiqun (rebellious, disobedient to Allah and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم)." And because prayer is a supplication for forgiveness, and a disbeliever will not be forgiven.