You want to verify an SSL connection to a secure POP or IMAP server.
For secure POP:
$ openssl s_client -quiet -connect server:995 [messages about server certificate validation] +OK POP3 server.net v2001.78rh server ready
Type QUIT to exit.
For secure IMAP:
$ openssl s_client -quiet -connect server:993 [messages about server certificate validation] * OK [CAPABILITY ...] server.net IMAP4rev1 2001.315rh at Mon, 3 Mar 2003 20:01:43 - 0500 (EST)
Type 0 LOGOUT to exit.
If you omit the -quiet switch, openssl will print specifics about the SSL protocol negotiation, including the server's X.509 public-key certificate.
The openssl command can verify the server certificate only if that certificate, or one in its issuer chain, is listed in the system trusted certificate cache. [Recipe 4.4]
openssl(1).