Quote Originally Posted by Skott
One good strategy that I do is send a diplomat to Rome to camp the city. His main job is to grease the Pope's hands with gifts in money. 1,000 florin will get you at least one step up on Pope's view of you. Sometimes it'll give two steps up. I've gotten three steps with 2,000 florin. This is a good way to keep in the Pope's good graces whenever he starts to get upset with you. When your diplomat enter's his mid-50s in age then its time to send a replacement. Characters in this game tend to die not long after they reach 60 years of age I have noticed.
As stated in the above quote, Get that diplomat to Rome quickly as possible.
Then I load up ships with three priests and sail them to muslim lands as fast as possible. They preach, get piety. This will help get them a cardinalship. I fort up in Cain untill England is secure. While you are doing this build forces and ships. (Your other ships are busy getting priests south to convert muslim lands.) When England is secure you are ready for the war on the mainland.