Two of Pope Francis ' grandnephews and the boys ' mother were killed early Tuesday in a car crash in the pontiff 's homeland of Argentina , police said . The pontiff 's nephew , Emanuel Horacio Bergoglio , was critically injured in the crash on a highway in Cordoba province , said Carina Ferreyra , a Cordoba provincial police spokeswoman . A car driven by Bergoglio struck a truck about 12:30 a.m. , killing his sons -- Jose Bergoglio , 8 months , and Antonio Bergoglio , 2 -- and his wife , Valeria Carmona , 36 . Emanuel Bergoglio , 35 , was taken to a hospital in Cordoba , where he was in critical condition Tuesday morning , Ferreyra said . 5 ways the Pope is tougher than you think . Pope Francis was `` deeply hurt '' by news of the crash , a Vatican spokesman said . `` The Pope has been informed of the tragic accident that took place in Argentina involving some of his family members , '' said the spokesman , the Rev . Federico Lombardi . `` He is deeply hurt . `` He asks to all of those who participate in his sorrow to be with him in prayers . '' Pope Francis , the former Jorge Mario Bergoglio , served the Roman Catholic Church in Argentina for 43 years , including 15 years as archbishop of Buenos Aires . He succeeded Pope Benedict XVI as leader of the church in March 2013 . The 77-year-old pontiff recently visited South Korea -- the first papal visit to the country in 25 years . The Pope 's first year in 60 seconds .
Police : A car driven by the Pope 's nephew struck a truck on a highway in Cordoba , Argentina . The driver was killed and his passenger injured. The Pope 's nephew , Emanuel Bergoglio , is in critical condition .