Quote Originally Posted by Anonymous II
Give Papal States gifts all the time, and you'll be good.

I like to start being agressive towards a faction that attacks me when I have full pope-o-meter. Then it'll take many hostile actions from me before the pope threatens with excommunication. Then I manage to take, say three settlements, and I give one of them to the pope as a gift. Reputation with the pope can for example then go from 3 crosses to full bar.
Never ever gift the pope a settlement. He will go on a rampage and conquer his own little empire. If you don't care your diplomatic reputation simply sack cities and gift money to the guy in white. Usually some 3000 florins is enough to make him happy again. If you can keep your pope o meter at 7 or better 8 crosses or more, you can do anything you want as long as you let the pope give something of the loot