As much as anything else, the Pope had very little way to find out and react to what was going on. The only people who really could impose religious conformity were the bishops, and in fact the episcopal courts were quite busy. The only sanction the Pope really had was excommunication; but as the need to be in communion with Rome was very keenly felt, that was a serious sanction and often achieved its end; but it was practically never used except for kings, bishops and societal leaders. It would make no sense for the Pope in Rome to directly condemn some ill-instructed peasant or rebellious monk; that was the work of the Bishop. The one power the Pope did always enjoy was that of ultimate court of appeal; people condemned by their local bishops could and did appeal to Rome.