Quote Originally Posted by Ash
Maybe it's because I always start in Early, but in 90% of the game the Pope does Jack Shit and just sits there annoying me with excommunications.

Only if Italy falls in civil war do they pop out of Rome.
When they pop out of Rome, you can manipulate the pope to your own intentions. HAHAHAHA
Once as the Byz. I was ready to deal with the Sicilian problem in Greece.
1st i sent my princess to marry the pope, took me 6 month before i found that loophole, and prevented the Italians to crusade against me. Then the pope attack Naples which help me get rid of their king in Greece and without any heirs, the Sicilian occupation in Greece was over.Then I conquered Italy but left Malta for the Pope to live, isolated on that pitiful island.