Brazilian nun Inah Canabarro Lucas, officially recognized as the world’s oldest living person, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 116. Her extraordinary life spanned over a century of history, from global conflicts to spiritual milestones.
Born on June 8, 1908, Canabarro overcame fragile health in childhood—a period when many doubted she would survive. She joined the Congregation of Teresian Sisters in 1934 and lived a life devoted to faith, attributing her longevity to God, saying, “He is the secret of life. He is the secret of everything.”
Her religious order in Porto Alegre expressed gratitude for her life of dedication and service. Canabarro received a special blessing from Pope Francis on her 110th birthday.
Following her passing, the title of the world’s oldest living person now belongs to 115-year-old Ethel Caterham from Surrey, England, according to the U.S. Gerontological Research Group and LongeviQuest.
Though Canabarro claimed her birthday was on May 27, records confirm it as June 8. She was the 15th-oldest verified person in recorded history and the second-oldest nun after Lucile Randon of France, who died in 2023 at 118.