THE world’s oldest person, Brazilian nun Inah Canabarro Lucas, has died at the age of 116.
Born in São Francisco de Assis, Rio Grande do Sul, Inah passed away peacefully on Wednesday from old age.
Born June 8, 1908, Inah became the world’s oldest person in January after the death of 116-year-old Japanese woman Tomiko Itooka.
Her title was confirmed by the US Gerontological Research Group (GRG) and longevity tracker LongeviQuest.
A devout woman from childhood, Inah began her religious life aged 16 and took her vows in Montevideo, Uruguay in 1928.
She returned to Brazil in 1930, teaching Portuguese and maths in Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, and later served at the Provincial House in Porto Alegre.
Inah had been a frail child, and “many doubted she would survive”, according to Longeviquest.
Despite this, she joined the Congregation of Teresian Sisters in 1934 at age 26, between the two World Wars.
There, she became known for her work ethic and warmth.
Provincial coordinator Rita Fernandes Barbosa told Globo G1: “Discipline at work and in life.
“She always worked hard, was always very communicative, very welcoming.”
Her congregation paid tribute Wednesday, saying they were grateful “for the dedication and devotion” she had shown.
Inah was also the second-oldest nun ever documented, behind France’s Lucile Randon, who died in 2023 at 118.
Canabarro always credited her long life to her faith.
“He is the secret of life. He is the secret of everything,” she said of God, according to LongeviQuest.
Her milestone 110th birthday was marked with a special blessing from Pope Francis in 2018 – who himself passed away on Easter Monday.
A certificate of the blessing was given pride of place in her home.
While Inah claimed her birth date was May 27, 1908, experts say official records list it as June 8.
“Her documented birth date according to records is June 8, 1908,” GRG director Robert Young told AFP in January.
[God] is the secret of life. He is the secret of everything
Inah Canabarro Lucas
Inah’s long life wasn’t just marked by prayer and service.
She had a deep love for Sport Club Internacional — proudly sporting shirts, jackets and even pillows of her beloved “People’s Club.”
The nun was born before the club was even founded.
After her passing, Internacional posted: “She dedicated her 116 years of life to kindness, faith and love for the People’s Club.”
She was also a true Gaucho, with a well-known passion for barbecue.
“(For her birthday) she asked for a whole roast suckling pig,” recalled Rita Barbosa.
The title of world’s oldest person now belongs to Ethel Caterham, a 115-year-old resident of Surrey, England, as reported by the US Gerontological Research Group and LongeviQuest.
