Upon his resignation in 2013, Pope Benedict XVI emphasized that he had repeatedly examined his conscience before God. To carry out his duties well, both physical and spiritual strength are necessary, "a strength that has diminished in me to such an extent in recent months that I must recognize my inability to continue to perform the service entrusted to me effectively." Could he not have more consistently delegated the resolution of issues outside the central task to specialists? An examination of conscience always includes the question of personal guilt. Pope Benedict's earlier statements on the topic of "conscience and responsibility" suggest considering whether perhaps shortcomings in fulfilling the central service came to the forefront during his examination of conscience. His approach to the HIV/AIDS issue is marked by the failure to...