[ELS]

The proper procedure (yes, the Pope is incorrect) is to allow the priests to exercise discretion in distributing Eucharistic elements to non-Catholic Christians.

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.

[bobjam]

So therefore, Holy Communion is about Communion with the Roman Catholic Church and not about Communion with the Lord?

Eastern Orthodox Christians, by the way, are allowed by Rome to receive Communion in Roman Catholic Churches (they are, however, not allowed by their own churches to receive in Roman Catholic Churches).