So as I read your responses, the Pope does infact have the ability to give items.

In all honesty I've never had the mission to give him back Rome, and cant recall any "major" mission from him either so I was curious. I've gotten items on crusade before and its a nice little feature of the game.

I dont think that the Pope should hand out items easily, but giving him back Rome should garnish a high % of getting one.

Taking back Rome from an infidel and reestablishing the Pope to the vatican should be a major event IMHO, and certainly worthy of an item (if your piety is high, maybe that could be a contributing factor the the likelyhood?)