Pope to Get a Feeding Tube

It can't be an accident that so soon after the Terri Schiavo kerfuffle here in the USA, the Pope appears ready to be inserted with a feeding tube himself. Of course, we can't draw too many parallels here. The Pope's brain is undamaged, he is no vegetable, and he is not dependent upon another to make a decision. But it still seems ironic. I am not Catholic, but I hope this is either a short-term thing or a sign to the pontiff that it is time to step down.