I want to actually be challenged on hard, I don't play expert because I don't feel the +4 moral for CPU is going to make me play any better. So, what faction can I play to make it really tough?

I was also considering giving the pope a plathora of money because I am jealous of Bretwadas Uber Popes and would love to go up against the Papacy in a serious war. In my games, they just sit in Rome and excom everyone but me. I would love to see the Pope with a mass army in route to the holyland himself.

Just curious though, can the pope build crusades? If so, does he ever use them?