Quote Originally Posted by Heidrek
Doesn't that seem weird? I would have thought that no matter what, if you're at war with the pope, you're getting Ex-comm'd.
Not if you're the defender, as you've just discovered. You won't be ex-commed if His Holiness was the aggressor.

Quote Originally Posted by Heidrek
Likewise, is it possible to be allied with the pope while excommuniated?
I suppose it possible, at least theoretically. I don't think I've ever once seen it happen, however. It usually works out that the Papacy was also allied with the faction you're at war with -- the one for which you were ex-commed in the first place -- and so chooses that other faction over you.