A nun from Brazil who loves soccer is believed to be the world’s oldest person at almost 117 years old. She credits her strong Catholic faith for her longevity.
LongeviQuest, an organization that monitors supercentenarians worldwide, announced Sister Inah Canabarro as the oldest living person in the world, backed by early life records.
The nun, now in a wheelchair, became the oldest living person in the world after Tomiko Itooka passed away in Japan at the age of 116 on December 26, 2024.
Her nephew visits her every Saturday, sending voice messages between visits to keep her spirits high following two hospitalizations.
“The other sisters mention that she lights up when she hears my voice,” he said. “It really excites her.”
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In this photo released by LongeviQuest, Sister Inah Canabarro, 116, puts her hands together in prayer, in Porto Alegre, Brazil, Friday, February 16, 2024. (Carlos Macedo/LongeviQuest, via AP)
Canabarro was born on June 8, 1908, in southern Brazil to a large family, according to LongeviQuest researchers. Her nephew mentioned that her birth was recorded two weeks late and that she was actually born on May 27, 1908.
As a teenager, she devoted herself to religious work, spending two years in Montevideo, Uruguay, before moving to Rio de Janeiro and ultimately returning to her home state of Rio Grande do Sul.
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On her 110th birthday, she was honored by Pope Francis. She is the second-oldest documented nun after Lucile Randon, who held the title of the world’s oldest person until her passing in 2023 at the age of 118.
Pope Francis holds a rosary during the Mass for the closing of the General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on Oct. 29, 2023. (Riccardo De Luca/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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In addition to her unwavering faith, she is a dedicated fan of the local soccer club Inter. Founded after Canabarro’s birth, the club commemorates her birthday annually as the oldest supporter.
Her room is adorned with gifts in the team’s signature red and white colors, according to her nephew.
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“Regardless of race, creed, or social status, Inter is the people’s team,” she declared in a video shared on social media celebrating her 116th birthday with the club’s president.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
