This edition of ReligionLink explores seven issues that may deserve attention in 2022.

Heidi Campbell is an associate professor of media studies at Texas A&M University. She has researched a variety of topics, including online faith communities, new media ethics and the relationship between digital culture and religion.

Thomas Peters started and runs the American Papist blog and works with Catholic Vote. He speaks about Catholicism and politics, pro-life issues and pro-family activism, the future of social media and youth activism.

J.M. Berger is an analyst and author, and he focuses on extremism, extremist activities in the United States, and extremist use of social media. He works with the Brookings Institution and the Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World, publishes the web site Intelwire.com and contributes to Foreign Policy. He recently co-authored ISIS: The State of Terror with Jessica Stern. He can be reached through Ashley […]

Read a March 11, 2013, account by journalist John Thavis about the last conclave, in which Bergoglio was reportedly runner-up for the papacy.

Religion News Service posted reactions from other religious and secular leaders. In a separate RNS story, Jewish leaders said they see an ally in Francis.

The Associated Press posted a video on YouTube of the white smoke that signaled a decision had been made.

The Los Angeles Times reported that the Vatican tweeted the big news within minutes of Francis’ balcony appearance.

Read a New York Times story on the two brothers and what may have led them to abandon fairly normal lives for acts of terrorism.