Sister Inah Canabarro Lucas, a Catholic nun from Brazil, has been officially recognized as the world’s oldest living person at 116 years old.
Her title was confirmed by LongeviQuest, an organization specializing in verifying the longevity of supercentenarians, following the death of Japan’s Tomiko Itooka on December 29, 2024.
Sister Inah is also the world’s oldest living nun.
Born on May 27, 1908, in São Francisco de Assis, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, Sister Inah defied expectations after being a frail child to embrace a life of dedication and service. At 16, she joined the Teresian Sisters in Montevideo, Uruguay, taking her vows in 1934. For decades, she taught Portuguese, mathematics and history in schools across Brazil. Among her notable students was João Figueiredo, Brazil’s 30th president.
She also founded school marching bands along the Brazil-Uruguay border that remain celebrated. A devoted fan of Sport Club Internacional, Sister Inah’s room at the Provincial House of the Teresian Sisters in Porto Alegre is adorned with memorabilia honoring the local soccer team.
Sister Inah has lived through ten papacies and two world wars. Despite health challenges, she continues to inspire those around her through her unwavering faith and prayer life.
In 2018, Pope Francis recognized her 110th birthday with an apostolic blessing.
Pray for Sister Inah! 🙏
Photo credit: Martins406, CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons; Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
