A question about the pope and cardinals

I seem to remember the in game blurb said the pope elected a cardinal from a priest when a vacancy was open, and also that the cardinals voted on the pope.

Has anyone tried assassinating all the cardinals and killing the pope to see what happens? I'm kinda hoping that with no cardinals to vote on a pope and no pope to elect the cardinals it might mean bye bye pope.

(wishful thinking probably).

I got it down to 3 cardinals but I have had to start a new campaign due to all my cities revolting because of my excomunication and my borders being overextended due to my illadvised campaign to go knock on the pope's door and "convince" him of my good christendom. That and that fact that i'm losing heirs left right and center due to his damned inquisitors.

I really like the catholic unit types but this whole "bowing down to the voice of god" is really hurting my narcistic totalatarian urges.