Zee Media Bureau
Buenos Aires: Three relatives of Pope Francis were killed in a car crash while a fourth one is stated to be in a critical condition in Argentina.
The incident took place when the car carrying the relatives of the Pope crashed into a truck.
The wife of Pope`s nephew was killed along with two children one of whom was two years old while the other one was eight months old at the time of the incident.
Photos showed the passenger side of the car smashed and crumpled beneath the cargo truck.
Emanuel Bergoglio, the 38-year-old son of a brother of Pope Francis, was hospitalized. He suffered extensive injuries and his condition was not considered stable, said Ignacio Bruno, an assistant director of the hospital in the town of Villa Maria, to Todo Noticias television.
The man`s 36-year-old wife, Valeria Carmona, and two children, Jose and Antonio, died before reaching the hospital, Bruno said.
The accident occurred between the cities of Rosario and Cordoba, apparently as the family was returning to Buenos Aires following a holiday weekend. The driver of the truck was not injured.
Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi said "the pope was informed about the tragic accident. He is deeply pained." He added the pope asks "all who share in his grief to unite with him in prayer."
(With AP Inputs)
