How do you handle the pope?

[Sab99]

How do you, as a Catholic faction, handle the pope?

Most of the time I see the pope only holding Rome and chilling out there, so I let him keep that settlement. But in my campaign he warred with Venice and Genoa, so he holds northern-Italy.

Should I kill all his settlements or make him my vassal and give him 1 settlement somewhere?

[CoeurDeLion]

As a Catholic faction, I generally try to be the pope's best friend as early as possible. It's usually one of the only alliances I will actively pursue very early on. Being friends with the Pope I find really helps improve your position in the Catholic meat grinder early on.

Lately, I have been playing as the ERE though, and after invading Italy the Pope declared war and attacked me, so I sacked Rome and have him bottled up in Tuscany. Will attempt to destroy his remaining field armies and vassalize, rather than destroy.

I have to say I prefer the latter method greatly.

[Duck of Death]

Be friends with him early on.
When you get around to invading Italy, take Rome and then give the Pope that little island east of Spain and make him your vassal.
I often do the same thing for Venice and Genoa... take their mainland holdings and then vassal them onj the two islands west of Italy.
Ditto for Sicily... confine them to Sicily... all as my vassals

[Competizione]

The best thing is to just keep friends with him, unless you really want Rome. The easiest way to achieve this is by gifting the PS money or a regular tribute. The obvious upside is the Pope will usually pick your side in wars and you can call crusades at your discretion. If the pope's against you, or worse if you're excommunicated and can't buy your way in, I usually just send an assassin to do the job. If the pope dies and you're not at war with the PS, you'll be automatically reconciled.

[Steward Denethor II]

I generally ignore the Pope and do what I want.