Anti-Popes are senior clergy who claim to be the Pope, and are believed by many people. When this happens, the power of the Papacy is in disarray until the situation is resolved.

The Pope is played by a player, just as every other PC in the game is, and that player may do whatever he wants. The Papal players have tended to be quite Papal in the past. As with the historical Popes, they have been eager to encourage peaceful conduct and good works. Also like the Medieval Popes, they have always been looking for ways to increase their wealth. One way to add to their purse is to exploit their connection with the Banco Catolico De Credito Internazionale (BCCI). The Popes have a connection with the BCCI, an organization we have created to represent the Italian bankers. In some respects, the Pope and the BCCI must act together. This happens when a king requests church taxes. The Pope must approve this before the BCCI can collect and deliver the taxes to the king. The Pope often requests a kickback on this Church Tax.

There is, however, one situation when the Pope cannot authorize the release of the Church Tax, or do a lot of other Papal things, and that is when there is an Anti-Pope. This condition arises under the following circumstances:

-The Pope is considered to be French until a Papal Conclave is brought about by an Anti-Pope crises and the Conclave elects a non-French (Spanish or Italian) Pope. While the Pope is French, he cannot grant the Church Tax to the English King.

-Each time the Pope dies there is a 10% chance of an Anti-Pope appearing. This chance increases 5% each time the Pope again dies without an Anti-Pope appearing again (15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, etc.).

-When an Anti-Pope appears, the Papal player cannot authorize the release of the Church Tax, order excommunications, grant divorces, give blessings or commit any other binding action until the conclave elects a new Pope. The conclave has a 12% chance of occurring each season after the appearance of an Anti-Pope.

-On the season after the Conclave occurs, the new Papal character is no longer French (but Spanish or Italian, if it's Spanish, all those that follow are Italian. If it's Italian, all that follow are Italian.) At that point, the Pope can grant the Church Tax for BOTH the English and French kings.

Remember, also, that the Papal States go into rebellion in any season that a non-Italian pope enters the Papal States.