Pope's relatives die in road accident Published duration 19 August 2014

The wife and two children of Pope Francis's nephew have been killed in a car crash in Argentina, officials say.

His nephew, Emanuel Bergoglio, was badly hurt in the accident in the Cordoba area, north-west of the capital, Buenos Aires.

The Pope was "profoundly saddened" by the news, his spokesman Francesco Lombardi said.

Before becoming Pope Francis, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was cardinal of Buenos Aires.

His nephew's family was reportedly returning home from a break when their car collided with a lorry at James Craik, some 580km (360 miles) north-west of Buenos Aires shortly before midnight.

His wife Valeria Carmona, 39, and their two children Jose, 2, and eight-month-old Antonio were all killed, reports said.

The Papal spokesman said he asked "all who share in his grief to unite with him in prayer".