As u can see from my screenshot if the faction is excomuted it says so specifically.It is possible for a faction to have 0 crosses and not be excomuted as well as being possible for a faction to have 5 crosses and be excomuted.

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y70/knoddy/exom.jpg

also i like Kraxis idea, of giving the holy lands to the pope, which i have been doin for the last few years. at first the turks took jerusalam back after i gifted it to the pope, but now he has quite a little empire going on down in the holy lands (he still wont give me florence tho :( and he still isnt really expanding at all, although he is building up the cities and training units.

also in ur situation with germany having such low relations and u having such high, its quite possible the pope will leave things be if u attack, and if not at most u would prolly get a warning and a small relations drop.

Cheers Knoddy