A biblical definition of fasting is a Christian’s voluntary abstinence from food for spiritual purposes. It is Christian, for fasting by a nonChristian obtains no eternal value because the Discipline’s motives and purposes are to be God-centered. It is voluntary in that fasting is not to be coerced. Fasting is more than just the ultimate crash diet for the body; it is abstinence from food for spiritual purposes.
Donald S. Whitney

Election Of Popes

Election Of Popes

ELECTION OF POPES

BASIC R.C. BELIEFS The Bishop of Rome used to be chosen by the people of Rome, then by the priests. Since 1059 the electoral power for a pope has been restricted to Cardinals. For over 500 years, the choice has fallen on a Cardinal, although any Roman Catholic man who has come to the age of reason is eligible (EXTERNALS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, Msgr. O’Sullivan, page 7). For many years the Papacy has been bestowed on an Italian; the last non-Italian Pope had been Dutch (Adrian VI) in 1522. On Nov. 16, 1978, a Pole, Karol Wojtyla, was elected and became Pope John Paul II.