Pope Francis expressed his deep grief after learning that three of his relatives died in a car crash on a highway in central Argentina, according to the official broadcasting service of Vatican on Tuesday.

Rev. Federico Lombardi, the Vatican's spokesman said that Pope Francis has been informed about the tragic accident and he was profoundly saddened. He also added that the Pope asked all those who share in his grief to unite with him in prayer.

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News of the accident surfaced after Pope Francis returned to the Vatican from his South Korea visit.

In an open discussion between reporters during his flight from Seoul, Pope Francis made a light-hearted comment about his own mortality. He said that he may just have two or three years to live.

After he was asked about his massive popular appeal, the 77-year-old Pope said that he sees it as the generosity of the people of God. For him to not be proud, he tries to think of his sins and mistakes. He knows that it will only last a short time.

"Two or three years and then I'll be off to the Father's House," Pope Francis smilingly replied.

The car accident in Argentina killed two young great nephews of the Pope and their mother, the wife of Pope Francis' nephew.

Emanuel Bergoglio, the 38-year-old son of the Pope's brother, was driving the car when it slammed into the back of a cargo truck just past midnight on Monday, detailed the Highway Police Superintendent Jorge Raineri. It happened in the central Cordoba province of Argentina, while the family was reportedly returning to Buenos Aires after a holiday weekend.

The wife Valeria Carmona, 36, and the 8-month-old youngest child, Jose, died in the crash, the local hospital told Todo Noticias television. The two-year-old Antonio died at the hospital.

Bergoglio underwent surgery and would be closely monitored for the following steps, said the hospital's director Francisco Fortuna. He experienced hemorrhage, but it was immediately contained because of the surgical intervention.

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