Scottish Catholic Observer

Pope Francis today expressed his thanks for prayers said for his relatives who died in a car crash in Argentina in the early hours of yesterday morning.

At the end of his weekly general audience, the Holy Father spoke publicly for the first time about his loss.

“I thank you for the prayers and condolences for what happened in my family,” he said. “Even the Pope has a family. We are five siblings. I have 16 nieces and nephews. One of these nephews had a car accident. His wife died as well as two young children. One was two years old and the other only a few months old. And he right now is in critical condition. I thank you so much, so much, for your condolences and prayers.”

The Pope’s nephew, Emanuel Horacio Bergoglio, was reportedly returning to Buenos Aires from a family trip when his car collided with a truck.

Mr Bergoglio’s wife Valeria Carmona, 36, and their two children, Antonio aged two and Jose, 8 months, were killed in the accident.

Speaking in Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, the Pope also reflected today on his recent trip to South Korea.

“The Church took root in Korea and grew largely because of lay people, who saw the attractiveness of the Gospel and sought to live like the first Christians, in equal dignity and solidarity with the poor,” he said in English following the main address delivered in Italian.

At the end of the audience, the Pope was seen in good spirits addressing members of San Loranzo, the Argentinean team he is an avid supporter of, and who last Wednesday won the Copa Libertadores, South America’s equivalent of the Champions League.

The Pope was given a San Loranzo strip by the team members, who brought their trophy along with them, and he spoke about his passion for the club.

“I greet the San Lorenzo champions,” the Pope said, adding that the club is a ‘part of my cultural identity.’

Pic: The Holy Father hugs a young pilgrim at his general audience today.