Does anyone fully understand the Eucharist? It's a mystery that can't be understood by us mere mortals.
The proper procedure (yes, the Pope is incorrect) is to allow the priests to exercise discretion in distributing Eucharistic elements to non-Catholic Christians.
NOBODY HAS A RIGHT TO RECEIVE COMMUNION- this applies to Catholics and non-Catholics alike. Unfortunately, a blanket policy such as the one discussed in this article gives the impression that those persons who are officially Roman Catholic have the right receive regardless of what they do the rest of the week (ahem Ted Kennedy) whereas those who are good and faithful Christians have no business at the Table.
Does Billy Graham espouse the same Eucharistic theology as the Pope? Not likely. Should it matter? Why? The Holy Spirit makes bread and wine into what He makes it- regardless of what we mortals think. The world is round regardless of those who once thought it to be flat. The body and blood or Christ is nourishing to all people who know and love Him, and It is spiritual poison to those who despise Him.
The clergy should be permitted to exercise caution when distributing to Roman Catholics and extreme caution when distributing to other Christians (remember, Pope John Paul II personally served Communion to PM Tony Blair).
That is absolutely true. We can describe the great mysteries of our Faith, such as the Trinity, using the words we've been taught, but fully understanding them is beyond our capacity at this stage of our lives.
"For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then, face to face. Now I understand in part; then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood."
That is not the proper procedure according to the Catholic Church and Pope Benedict XVI is correct. Among other criteria, in order for one to receive Holy Communion during a Catholic Mass, one must be in communion with the Catholic Church. One who is not a Catholic is by definition not in communion with the Catholic Church.