Vatican: Argentina car crash kills relatives of Pope Francis

VATICAN CITY – The Vatican says a road accident in Argentina has killed two young great-nephews of Pope Francis as well as their mother, the wife of the pope’s nephew.

Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi said the accident occurred Tuesday morning in the area of Cordoba, a major Argentine city. One nephew was 2, the other was 8 months. The age of their mother wasn’t immediately available. Lombardi said the nephew survived; local news reports said he was injured. Lombardi didn’t have the victims’ names.

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.”

This story was originally published August 19, 2014 at 8:13 AM with the headline "Vatican: Argentina car crash kills relatives of Pope Francis."