The Pope - Where will he re-emerge?

[Omanes Alexandrapolites]

Hi guys,
I have decided to start a new campaign again after being removed from the map in my last one - as usual I ended up declaring war against somebody with power much larger than my own - this time I've started using spies to estimate what I could be up against so, I hopefully won't pick a fight with the map bully! Anyhow, recently I have gone on a conquering spree against the weak Geonese in XL, as the Aragonese, and have managed to remove them from Corsica, Sardina and North Western Italy. Unfortunately, now, after all this conquest I have a nasty dilemma! The Pope is removed from the map and all of his former regions are pretty weak Geonese possessions. I wish to wipe them out very quickly and take over one of the old Papal Lands and let the Pope's return to do the rest. However, due to my inexperience, and M:TW noobishness, I don't know where he will turn up with his attack, so I don't know whose province to take to avoid the Pope returning to take my lands. So, may I ask you veterans, where the Pope will re-emerge at - I really don't want to have to fight an almighty full stack of Papal knights! Sorry for annoying you like this, thanks guys, cheers!

[caravel]

Unless he had conquered any other provinces and maintained good loyalty there for a period, then he will only reappear in Rome and the Papal States.

[Omanes Alexandrapolites]

Unless he had conquered any other provinces and maintained good loyalty there for a period, then he will only reappear in Rome and the Papal States.

That was quick, many thanks Caravel! Unfortunately I have to avoid the conquest of the Papal States and Rome.

[gaiusjulii]

Not at all... juast make you trash the pope and force him to retreat to rome then box him in, no re-emerging worries there mate, then assasinate him to counter the excommuniction you just earned.

[Vladimir]

Better the Papal States than Rome. Once you get to the point where you think the game is boring, take him out as early as possible and try to keep him down. It's a nice random mini-horde.

[Caliburn]

I think killing the pope "permanently" is not really worth the trouble. Though with navies he can be contained with reserve armies, just having the ability to go on crusades is a great tactical weapon against both the other Catholics and the mislead Orthodox not to mention the evil Pagans and Moslems. Not that I've not gone "pope-bashing" when I've gotten angry with the bugger.

Does it really matter if you lose one or both of the basic Papal regions? I can't remember if giving up a region where the re-emergence takes place will mean you're at war with the faction.

Haven't yet played XL, so maybe all I'm saying is bollocks... Have to try it when I grow bored with M2.