I suppose that's basically true. Although the Pope probably doesn't micro-manage much.
IMHO, the differences between the french and english Catholic churches here are quite big, with the english churches being much more progressive. The french church controlled entire communities, way to much influence over everything stemming from their so called authority. The Italians on the other hand are in an entire league of their own, no one can touch the Pope, they have ways of dealing with people like that.
Of course, this is just my own personal experience with the different Catholic churches and schools accross the country. It's not written in stone, or anything. Obviously, I'm not Moses.