pop o meter ?

[Skott]

I usually gift the Pope tribute of 100 florins per turn for 20 turns or so. I've heard some people do it for 100 turns but I have yet to get him to accept it for so many turns. Anyway, it'll let you keep your faction in good standing with the Pope for a long time (depending on how long you set tribute for).

[Razor1952]

I use 100fl x100 turns and status with Pope on very hard is still always perfect or close to it, effectively negating him.

In fact I think it is so much a must do that it should be made much harder to curry favour with by gifts. I would suggest say 1000 florins needed or tied to the number of settlements/overall gross income.

Any strategy which becomes a must do, IMHO should be fixed if possible so it becomes a real strategy question again.