When did that become the standard for the Roman Catholic Church? Would you be so kind as to reference this teaching in their Catechism?
“totally” free of sin be stating beyond what the rules are or were. In pre-Vatican II days, the Baltimore Catechism taught that you were supposed to be in a ‘state of grace,’ i.e., having sought forgiveness for your sins, before taking Communion. That explains why confessions on Saturday evenings were so common in those days.
If I were in a position like Giuliani to take Communion consecrated by the Pope, I may have done so, too, regardless of my ‘state of grace.’
No church is, or could possibly be, for those free of sin; it’s where we sinners go for healing of our soul and spirit. Frankly, I’m not in a position to judge Giuliani or anyone else.