Excommunicated Austrian ruler

[Daniel Halachev]

After I destroyed Venice, took a province from the Papal State and got the Burgundian inheritance as Austria, France (who had managed to become curia controller) excommunicated me. Don't know how this mechanic works so:
1. If I declare war on France and win it, will I be able to make France revoke excommunication with some kind of peace option? Or I must attack the Pope if the option actually exists?
2. Will excommunication go off when my ruler dies? Is it worth killing my ruler?
3. Is it worth going protestant in the other case?
4. Can you give me some tips on how to improve my Papal influence?

 

[Dominion]

You can only remove your excommunication by killing your ruler.

Or if someone who likes you becomes the new pope and lifts it off of you.

Just make sure the Pope's opinion never goes below 0. Can't excommunicate you if the Pope likes you.

 

[grommile]

What Dominion said. The first* diplomatic priority of any Catholic state who has hostile nearby Catholic states must always be "keep Papal relations above zero at all times".

* OK, OK, occasionally there is something more important, but anyone who can't work out what those situations are isn't ready to play anyone weaker than, say, the Ottomans.

 

[dynalon]

Not that this would be a reliable solution by any means, but if you happen to have a personal union (not that unlikely for Austria, after all) and happen to become the papal controller, you can lift the excommunication from your junior partner and by extention yourself.

 

[Bibor]

After I destroyed Venice, took a province from the Papal State and got the Burgundian inheritance as Austria, France (who had managed to become curia controller) excommunicated me.

Just finished a game as Austria. Not a direct answer to your question, but here's what I found (also mentioned by other people here recently):
Letting the shadow kingdom slide and allying the Pope is the stronger opening move.

Your forces that got cut in half are better utilized subjugating Bohemia and Hungary, while also leaving rich northern Italy open for later expansion.

Since Italy has so many minors, vassal feeding here is truly helpful in keeping your AE down.

You can always go reformed or protestant once you revoke the privilegia (as you can force religion on your subjects without them going over 50%) and take Rome if you really want (I did).