Inah Canabarro Lucas, recognized as the world's oldest person, died at the age of 116 years and 326 days in Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Inah Canabarro Lucas, a Brazilian nun and the world’s oldest known person, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 116 years and 326 days.
Her death was confirmed by the Therese Sisters Congregation, with which she had been affiliated in Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Born on June 8, 1908, in São Francisco de Assis, a city in southern Brazil, she became known as the oldest living person following the death of Tomiko Itooka, a 116-year-old Japanese woman, in January.
The new world's oldest person is currently Ethel Caterham, an Englishwoman residing in Surrey, England, who is noted to be 115 years and 252 days old, according to data from gerontology research groups.
The Therese Sisters Congregation expressed their gratitude for Sister Inah's commitment and devotion in a statement, stating, "On this day, may the resurrection embrace Sister Inah Canabarro; we thank the Lord, Father of goodness, for receiving her into His infinite love."
Sister Inah began her religious formation at the age of 16 in a school run by the Therese Sisters in Santana do Livramento, close to the border with Uruguay.
After a brief period in Montevideo, she returned to Brazil, where she was ordained at 26 and embarked on a lengthy career of religious service that included roles as a teacher and a secretary.
When asked about her remarkable longevity, she often attributed it to her faith.
"He is the secret of life.
He is the secret of everything," she stated.
In recognition of her contributions and advancing age, Sister Inah received an apostolic blessing from
Pope Francis in 2018, when she was nearly 110 years old.
Inah Canabarro Lucas is recorded as the second oldest nun in history, following Lucile Randon of France, who lived to be 118 years.