Certainly could be the reason why. Here we go: those of the Jesuit order are sworn first and foremost to the Pope. Let's say that he is not longer pope and hypothetically another is (or still is). If he adhered to their vow of obedience (and the Jesuits got obedience down pat) he might exhibit this behavior, no longer officially being Pope. Would HE kiss the ring if it was on (former) Pope Benedict XVI's hand?? Bizarre to say the least. This overt evasion is deliberate on his part-obviously not a fluke. But not surprising in Vatican-world nor for the Society of Jesus/Societas Iesu. Trippin' stuff, my peeps.