Vatican Stamps to commemorate Jesuits, a painter and ... religious pluralism?

The story (with my commentary in dark red):

Mar. 14 (CWNews.com) - The first series of stamps issued by the Vatican postal service will be introduced on March 16. The stamps commemorate the integration of cultures in Europe, the founders of the Jesuit order, and the Italian painter Andrea Mantegna.

A mixed bag if you ask me. In the first run of Vatican stamps, couldn't we get something like, oh I dunno - Pope JP2 or B16 stamps? Even a picture of St. Peter's Basilica would be nice. I'd buy those and I think many other people would too.

Two stamps will be dedicated to religious pluralism in Europe. One will display a church, a mosque, and a synagogue, representing the three great monotheistic religions. The other will show children in a school classroom, symbolizing the meetingplace of future citizens.

Religious pluralism? Is that what the Vatican is the symbol of? No. Is that what its message to the world is? Read Dominus Iesus (the answer is "No" to that one, too). As for children in a classroom - I'd like to see a stamp depicting children in a Church (they are already in classrooms, let's promote getting them back in Church, especially in Europe).

Three other stamps will bear the portraits of great founders of the Society of Jesus: St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491- 1556), St. Francis Xavier (1506- 1552), and Blessed Pierre Favre (1506- 1546). St. Ignatius, the founder of the Jesuits, died 450 years ago in a house in central Rome where he had spent his last years. For St. Francis Xavier, the year 2006 is the 500th anniversary of his birth. The French Jesuit Pierre Favre died 440 years ago, as he was traveling to Trent to take part in the Council there, at the invitation of Pope Paul III.

This is fine -I have no problem with honoring the Jesuit founding founders. Perhaps this is a little tacit sign that Pope Benedict is still supportive of the Jesuits especially as they prepare to change superior generals.

For the 500th anniversary of the death of Mantegna, the Vatican will unveil three new stamps showing his works: an image of the Virgin and Child, another of Sts. Gregory and John the Baptist, and one of Sts. Peter and Paul.

Now this is more like it. Mantegna has some great works. Here is a google gallery of many of his pieces. I wouldn't be surprised if this is the Virgin and Child they are thinking of using.

Oh well, Mantegna almost removes the bad taste of "religious pluralism" from my mouth ... I hope that wording wasn't in the original press release.