During my Byzantium game 150 turns in the reconquest was well on it's way, I've stabilised Anatolia, Syria, Greece Bulgaria, Dalmatia and the Southern half of Italy. I noticed that the Pope has no allies and decided to finally retake Rome. I didn't expect an eternal modifier to appear instantly with my war declaration giving a whooping -200 opinion with all Catholic factions essentialy makin all diplomacy with them pointless and causing the to all declare war oon me.

No matter what I did the modifier did not go away, not when I wiped the papal states from the game, not when I vassalized them or even when I straight peaced them out without taking anything at all.

Is it intended that attacking the pope is basically equivanlent to an eternal death war against all Catholics? It feels super cheap and honestly kinda dumb that there is literally no way of getting rid of the modifier

help