That a majority of American Catholics appear not to believe in Christ’s Real Presence in the Mass is shocking, tragic news (“Beyond the politics of Communion”, 26 June). Hopefully, the Church in America will address the issue as a top priority.

However, isn’t it likely that a broadly parallel confusion exists in other parts at least of the developed world? Surely a major challenge for the Church? As a convert Catholic who has been attending Mass since the mid 1960s, I’ve found that the Real Presence is typically taken for granted in the preaching. I can recall few occasions when this fundamental part of our faith has received historically and theologically informed attention from the pulpit.