Excommunication for selfe defence?

[Horatius]

I have neen excommunicated three times in a row as french for getting attacked and retaliating by siezing enemy territory.

First I got excommunicated for fighting fellow christians when I defeated Aragan and regained Toulouse by bribing brigands that came up during the siege.

Then I got excommunicated when the British siezed Tolouse and I responded by siezing the rest of France.

Is there any way to pay the Pope for an indulgence and lift the excommunication?

[Roark]

Nope. Excommunication is for a lifetime. Either the Pope's lifetime, or your excommunicated ruler's lifetime.

Most people tend to expedite the former, by way of assassins or invasion.

[NodachiSam]

A catholic faction gets warned about excommunication if they attack a smaller catholic faction. If you're smaller you can attack with abandon until you get to the same size. Seizing enemy territory in retaliation is seen as invading them.

Its possible to manipulate this to your advantage. When you get a warning the warning lasts for 10 years and so you can attack another faction relentlessly without worrying about excommunication.

[Ciaran]

Well, I´ve managed to get recommunicated once without anyone (important) dying. I had a couple of Crusade marker standing around gathering dust and the turn after I got excommunicated the pope called for a Crusade against the Almohads. To my big surprise I could crusade and when I checked my diplomatic status, the little cross on my shield was whole again.
I´m not sure, though, whether this works only with called-for or any Crusades.

[gaijinalways]

Its possible to manipulate this to your advantage. When you get a warning the warning lasts for 10 years and so you can attack another faction relentlessly without worrying about excommunication.

I always thought the warning was for about 2 years? Can anyone confirm that as I don't have a copy of Medival installed now (too busy and computer is too buggy !

[Ludens]

I always thought the warning was for about 2 years? Can anyone confirm that as I don't have a copy of Medival installed now (too busy and computer is too buggy !

You have got two years to comply (meaning that you can still storm any castles, but conquering any new castle-guarded territory is a bad idea); and then do not commit any acts of aggression against that faction for the next ten years.