How do I destroy Papal States?

[A Nerd]

This might be because a new pope hasn't been elected yet. Wait a turn or so. The papacy might also have a province somewhere that you are not aware of, gifted or something along those lines. Also, I've seen the pope pop up in places other than Italy when all the papal states cities are gone. Spain for example, and other times I had no idea where he was because the region where he probably went was in the fog of war. He might go to where his last city was to to a region controlled by the faction from which he came when elected. This is my experience however, I could be incorrect, all I know is, that in my campaigns, even when all the papal cities were gone, the pope continued to exist (and what every army remained when the last city was gone. I don't think new family members are produced however, though this might change if a city was gifted or taken.

[Tabuu]

No when I capture Rome, the Pope doesn't appear period. All I see are random inquisitors wandering around Sofia or some other random province.

[A Nerd]

The pope will appear somewhere. It doesn't have to be near Rome. If you get no message a turn or so after all the papacy's cities are gone and the pope is dead that a new pope has been elected, then I don't know what to tell you. In all my campaigns that has never happened. That would be neat though if you could wipe out the papacy, always a fun part of MTW when the papacy would reappear with an army to reclaim their right to exist. In M2TW the pope can be so annoying!

[smooth_operator]

Papal States can NEVER EVER be destroyed. Even your cardinals that get elected as Pope get to be part of the Papal States themselves. Conquer Rome if you want. But still, the new pope will reappear next to it. If you managed to kill off any papal army however, the pope just appears as a single army unit. That's it.

[_Tristan_]

Papal States can NEVER EVER be destroyed. Even your cardinals that get elected as Pope get to be part of the Papal States themselves. Conquer Rome if you want. But still, the new pope will reappear next to it. If you managed to kill off any papal army however, the pope just appears as a single army unit. That's it.

What he said...

[Cute Wolf]

BLASPHEMY! HERETIC!!! MAY GOD KILLS YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE THO THE HOLY SEE!!!

now a bit serious, you COULD technically DESTROY the Papal States, as long as:
- You are either Muslim or Orthodox (so no catholic priests become the pope, nor high catholic region spawn the Pope)
- You allready killed every Catholic factions
- Took toggle_fow, and see if your enemy give away some regions for the Pope

* I once destroy the papacy with no new Pope being spawn - but still listed as alive, when playing as Byzantine

[Tabuu]

Cute wolf's "*" is what's really happening. THAT I can't understand.