Beating Excommunication without hurting the pope

[Weebeast]

I'm not sure if they pope will still excommunicate you if you are defending yourself though.

While this is just based on my brief observation, the 'defender' can only re-capture its homelands. It can't go for more or it gets an instant warning. Pope tends to back up the offender which is the reason why he doesn't live a good life despite he's the voice of god. LOL