VATICAN CITY, April 6: The world’s two smallest countries have both lost their heads of state in the past four days and the smallest, the Vatican, sent condolences on Wednesday to the second-smallest, Monaco. The Vatican sent condolences through Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, dean of the college of cardinals, to Monaco, whose Prince Rainier died on Wednesday.

“In the name of the college of cardinals, I send my deepest condolences to Your Royal Highness, the royal family, the government and the people of Monaco,” Cardinal Ratzinger wrote to Rainier’s son Prince Albert.

The Vatican’s area is 0.44 square kms while Monaco’s is 1.97 square kms. —Reuters

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