What would a publicity hog need to do to get excommunicated from the Catholic church by the Pope himself?

Excommunication is a severe penalty resulting from grave crimes against the Catholic religion.

It is imposed by church authority or incurred as a direct result of the commission of an offense.

Excommunication excludes the offender from taking part in the Eucharist or other sacraments and from the exercise of any ecclesiastical office, ministry, or function.

Excommunication does not mean a loss of salvation. However, the crime committed that was penalized by it might be a mortal sin.

There are a few offenses for which Latin Rite Roman Catholics are automatically excommunicated (the Latin term is Latæ Sententiæ):

• Apostasy - the formal renunciation of one's religion, especially if the motive is deemed unworthy

• Heresy

• Desecration of the Eucharist

• Physical force against the Pope

• Attempted sacramental absolution of a partner in adultery

• Ordination of a bishop without a Papal mandate (e.g. all bishops in the government-run Chinese Patriotic Church)

• For non-electors present in the conclave, revelation of the details of the conclave

• Simoniacal provision of the Papal office

• Violation of the sacramental seal of confession by a priest or bishop

• Procurement of a completed abortion

The purpose of excommunication is the correction and redemption of the person who has chosen to separate himself or herself from the Church.

For more information, see: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05678a.htm

With love in Christ.

1. Be prominent enough.

2. Start a faction that claims the Pope is illegitimate and pretend you want to take over and be the head of the Church.