@Moon @chris "I'm sorry" feels so weak though. Here people are not really religious except some immigrants and older people, but I remember when I went to a US office a couple of years back, one of my coworkers was talking to another person working in that office whose parent had a terminal illness, and my coworker said something like "my family and I will keep them in our prayers". It took me aback because here even religious people would usually not say something like this, in case the other person was not and it made them more uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry" felt so... inadequate, borderline inappropriate in comparison. I didn't know that person at all, in all likelihood I would not think about that person at all the next day (and the only reason I still do think about them is selfish, because of how it made ME feel). I can't think of any time hearing someone say they're sorry for me made me feel any better. The answer my coworker gave felt so much more comforting, that there is something they can do to help the other person feel better. And it visibly did seem to comfort them.