1.   A few days earlier, a Vatican spokesman said the pope would continue public appearances inside Vatican City while scrapping parish visits for now.

2.   But the Vatican has given no indication that security concerns have figured into the last-minute scratching of parish visits.

3.   Earlier Sunday, John Paul made a parish visit to a church on the outskirts of Rome, St. Mateo.

4.   It was his first parish visit this year, resuming his tradition of intimate Sunday morning encounters with the faithful.

5.   John Paul is especially fond of his parish visits, which have seen him spend many Sunday mornings chatting informally or even joking with the faithful in Rome.

6.   John Paul adores his parish visits, during which he will spend Sunday mornings chatting informally or even joking with the faithful in Rome.

7.   Masses are sometimes said in apartment buildings instead of churches, as the pope has noticed during his weekly parish visits.

8.   The knee was also cited in last-minute cancellations of parish visits last week and the week before.

9.   The knee was also cited in last-minute cancellations of parish visits last week and the week before that.

10.   The Vatican said the parish visits would be rescheduled.