A curious thing I note in my current campaign (English - Early - Hard).

In the one turn I get an excom warning from old mate Popey for being a naughty Catholic king attacking another Catholic faction - and at the same time he hands over 1,000 florins for me being such a good Catholic king!

Is he knocking back some of the communal wine here or what?

Another "Papal Issue" - is the Pope more inclined to ally with some factions than he is with others? I noted in my last campaign (Sicily), he seemed determined to be my ally no matter what, but he appears to be not even remotely interested in standing at my side in this campaign....