So I'm playing my first ironman game that's going somewhat well. I kicked england out and I'm in control of Ireland and starting to do the south coast. Even though Castile got the burgundian inheritance I've pretty much dismantled her. The problem is when taking provence and avingon for the mission, I got excommunicated by the pope. As a result my AE is insanely high and coalition is about to spawn. Not only that but Castile got my main ally Aragon just prior to 1500. A coalition started after my last war with england and I can't do anything to raise my opinion in the HRE cause I'm excommunicated by multiple states.

I've got 6 cardinals so once the debuff goes away I know I'm set for papal influence, but the pope hates me since I took avignon. While aragon and naples independance desire is 100%, I can't support them as they have a truce with castile until 1515.

Would it be better to go protestant at this point to get rid of the -200 and -50 opinion debuffs? Both austria and castile have joined the coalition at this point. I just don't know where to go with the next decision.

World status: https://imgur.com/a/z3uqgLO