Just became the pope?

[Shaduru]

Hello everyone, I was playing a normal Ironman game, from 769, and right now, in 1297, after becoming Emperor and the pope dying... I am the pope? I do not understand how this happened, it seems I was the heir to his claims, but when I try to search on the internet everyone says you can only be the pope with cheats. I have no Theocratic DLC or anything, and yes, I can excommunicate people et cetera. My vasssal limit is reduced and I cannot be count, amongst many other things. I may appoint someone new for the papacy now, but please help. It also changed my name.

I can nominate people for the HRE but I cannot change any of my kingdom's inheritance laws. https://prnt.sc/113h1h8 https://prnt.sc/113h21c

(Kind of big RIP here, this might ruin my game, but it was probably worth it lmao. I'll probably keep going on to survive until 1453)

EDIT: I should also say the pope was my vassal. I thought that was pretty obvious but better safe than sorry lol

[Preacher]

LOL. I know you said it is a normal ironman game but be sure to check you are running no mods. AFAIK, there is absolutely NO WAY to become/play as the Pope in a clean, vanilla, ironman game. DLC or no DLC.

[Shaduru]

Originally posted by Today the eternal debt was paid:

LOL. I know you said it is a normal ironman game but be sure to check you are running no mods. AFAIK, there is absolutely NO WAY to become/play as the Pope in a clean, vanilla, ironman game. DLC or no DLC.

Please believe me XD Absolutely no mod here, and just like 1 or 2 completely unrelated DLC. I found a video where one guy also does this, but I did not do it on purpose. I cannot have any lands, which sucks btw. https://youtu.be/XEJwdaPgVHQ

[Hieda no Ajuu]

Well, the good news is, you're still primarily the Emperor, since it doesn't mark your realm as Theocracy on the government bubble. I'd advise checking the inheritance for your empire and the papacy though, since if your heir inherits being pope from you things are probably ruined.
That said, this is super weird since only priests are supposed to become the pope, and it doesn't seem like any of your holdings are priestly except the ones you inherited from the pope.
The only thing I can think of is if you had an antipope of your family installed as the regular pope, and even then it's still supposed to be up to the Cardinals when the pope dies.

[Shaduru]

Originally posted by Hieda no Ajuu:

Well, the good news is, you're still primarily the Emperor, since it doesn't mark your realm as Theocracy on the government bubble. I'd advise checking the inheritance for your empire and the papacy though, since if your heir inherits being pope from you things are probably ruined.
That said, this is super weird since only priests are supposed to become the pope, and it doesn't seem like any of your holdings are priestly except the ones you inherited from the pope.
The only thing I can think of is if you had an antipope of your family installed as the regular pope, and even then it's still supposed to be up to the Cardinals when the pope dies.

Well my son does inherit the papacy as it is primogeniture now it seems. About the last part... Nope. Btw I am 70 years old so...my death should be coming rip.

[Myll]

This may be a rare case of the "Landed" succession for the Pope took effect, perhaps(?), in parallel to when you remove a title from a current county bishop and then you own/landed on the local Church, but it will say that you don't have the right form of governance (because you're Feudal whereas the Church is Theocracy.

So, just like taking over the local Church and then you name someone who has "Church Skills" - whether a relative (who you don't want to marry/bear children) or your current top Church dude w/high Learning skill -- you need to hand-pick the next Pope to then take over that duty.

This is theory on my part, but it sounds like it went down this lane.

[Shaduru]

Originally posted by Myll:

This may be a rare case of the "Landed" succession for the Pope took effect, perhaps(?), in parallel to when you remove a title from a current county bishop and then you own/landed on the local Church, but it will say that you don't have the right form of governance (because you're Feudal whereas the Church is Theocracy.

So, just like taking over the local Church and then you name someone who has "Church Skills" - whether a relative (who you don't want to marry/bear children) or your current top Church dude w/high Learning skill -- you need to hand-pick the next Pope to then take over that duty.

This is theory on my part, but it sounds like it went down this lane.

Unfortunately, I cannot, as I could not nominate a successor for the papacy. However, I have noticed that I had not appointed any successor and I have free investiture so...it may be related?

[simeon369]

the only way i can think of where this would be possible is if you had your Heir or Relative landed as a Theocracy/Bishopric county after they had a Son, then dying after getting them nominated as pope, but I believe they aren't supposed to be able to inherit if you do that..

My knowledge is limited and i am confusion.