The leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Benedict, is misleading the world into thinking that condom use helps spread HIV infection. Hopefully most people will choose to think for themselves and will not seek medical and scientific advice from a spiritual leader. The scientific community has denounced the Pope's statement. (See editorial in www.thelancet.com ). The truth of the matter is that condoms actually help save lives. They also help lessen the number of unwanted pregnancies, and subsequent abortions. In an overpopulated and hungry planet faced with an AIDS epidemic, condoms are a helpful contraceptive, and an effective barrier against the spread of HIV and many other communicable diseases.