World’s oldest person, Sister Inah Canabarro Lucas, dies at 116

Sister Inah Canabarro Lucas lived to 116. / Credit: Nathália Queiroz/ACI Digital

Sao Paulo, Brazil, May 1, 2025 / 16:00 pm (CNA).

Sister Inah Canabarro Lucas, the oldest person in the world, died Wednesday in Porto Alegre, Brazil, at the age of 116.

Born on May 27, 1908, the Teresian nun was the oldest person in the world, according to LongeviQuest, a group of researchers that studies centenarians.

She lived in Porto Alegre, in the Santo Enrique de Ossó Shelter, located next to the provincial house of the Teresian Sisters of Brazil, a community she joined in 1927 at age 19.

In a March 2024 interview with ACI Digital, CNA’s Portuguese-language news partner, she mentioned that one of the secrets to her longevity was praying every day for all the people of the world.

Originally from São Francisco de Assis in Rio Grande do Sul state, Inah was the great-niece of Gen. David Canabarro, one of the main leaders of the Farroupilha Revolution (1835–1845) that took place in the same state. She studied at a convent school and at age 19 entered the novitiate with the Teresian Sisters in Montevideo, Uruguay.

Over the course of more than a century, she experienced numerous changes in the world and in the Church. The nun lived through two world wars and 10 popes. The year she was born, St. Pius X was pope.

As a teaching sister, Inah taught Portuguese, mathematics, science, history, art, and religion in Teresian schools in Rio de Janeiro, Itaqui, and Santana do Livramento, a city where she is much loved because it was where she spent most of her life.

A notable achievement in her life was the creation of the Santa Teresa School marching band in Santana do Livramento. The band featured 115 musical instruments and performed in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina. She also collaborated in the creation of the renowned Pomoli High School marching band in Rivera, Uruguay, sister city of Santana do Livramento.

Sister Inah was an enthusiastic fan of Sport Clube Internacional soccer team, founded in 1909 when she was just 1 year old.

With her death, the world’s oldest person, according to LongeviQuest, becomes Englishwoman Ethel Caterham, who is 115 years old, born on Aug. 21, 1909.

This story was first published by ACI Digital, CNA’s Portuguese-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by ACI Prensa/CNA.