Sister Inah Canabarro Lucas, a 116-year-old Brazilian nun, has earned the title of the oldest living person, following the recent passing of a woman from Japan. Guinness World Records confirmed her achievement, noting that she is also the oldest known nun. Her remarkable age was a surprise to many, including her family.
In an article by Associated Press, her 84-year-old nephew shared that, as a child, Canabarro was so frail that few believed she would survive her early years. When asked about the secret to her long life, Sister Inah attributes it to her unwavering faith in God. "He is the secret to life," she told LongeviQuest, a group dedicated to tracking the world's oldest individuals. "He is the secret of everything."
Born on June 8, 1908, in southern Brazil to João Antônio Lucas and Mariana Canabarro Lucas, Sister Inah is also the great-granddaughter of Brazilian General David Canabarro. She began her spiritual journey as a teenager at the Santa Teresa de Jesus boarding school in Sant'Ana do Livramento, Rio Grande do Sul. In her early twenties, she moved to Montevideo, Uruguay, where she was baptized into the Catholic Church. She later returned to Brazil and worked as a teacher.
At 26, Sister Inah took her perpetual vows in July 1934 and became a nun. In 2018, to mark her 110th birthday, she was honored by Pope Francis.
Despite her devotion to the church, Sister Inah has another great passion: soccer. She is a dedicated fan of Sports Club Internacional, a major Brazilian soccer team based in Porto Alegre. Each year, the team celebrates her birthday, and her room is adorned with red and white gifts that represent the club’s colors. Her nephew revealed that Sister Inah cherishes the power of soccer to unite people, regardless of background. "White or black, rich or poor," she said in a video posted on social media for her 116th birthday. "Inter is the team of the people."
Canabarro became the world's oldest living person after the passing of Japan's Tomiko Itooka in December, as confirmed by LongeviQuest. She now holds the position as the 20th oldest documented person in history, with the record being held by Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment, who passed away in 1997 at the age of 122, according to LongeviQuest.
Source: Associated Press / LongeviQuest
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