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Meet Sister Inah Lucas, the soccer-loving nun who is now the oldest person in the world

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Meet Sister Inah Lucas, the soccer-loving nun who is now the oldest person in the world

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Nearly a week after the death of the oldest person in the world, a nonprofit documenting the world’s oldest people has welcomed the world’s newest title-holder.

At 116, Inah Canabarro Lucas is now the world’s oldest person. She is also the 20th oldest person in recorded history. The woman, who is from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, was confirmed by LongeviQuest, the organization announced Saturday. 

Her confirmation comes after the death of 116-year-old Tomiko Itooka of Japan on Dec. 29, who died from natural causes. After her death, Japan’s oldest living person became 115 year-old Okagi Hayashi, who lives in the Gifu Prefecture.

Previous titleholder: World’s oldest woman Tomiko Itooka dies at 116, Guinness World Records announces

A lifetime of honor and recognition

Lucas celebrated her 110th birthday in 2018 and received an apostolic blessing from Pope Francis, as well as a certificate, LongeviQuest reported.

She has been recognized multiple times for her age, including:

  • Jan. 2, 2022 – Oldest Brazilian ecclesiastical person ever.
  • Jan. 23, 2022 – Oldest documented living person in Brazil.
  • July 30, 2022 – Oldest validated living person in South and Latin America.
  • Feb. 16, 2024 – Brazil’s oldest living person.
  • Feb. 22, 2024 – Oldest living person in the Americas and the world’s third oldest living person.
  • Aug. 19, 2024 – World’s second oldest living person.
  • Dec. 29, 2024 – World’s oldest living person.

Lucas is also the second oldest nun in documented history, coming only after Lucile Randon or Sister André of France, who died in January 2023 at 118 years and 340 days old. 

According to LongeviQuest, Lucas is also the last known living person born in 1908.

Nun began her life of faith at 16 years old

Lucas was born in São Francisco de Assis, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil on June 8, 1908, according to LongeviQuest. The organization said her date of birth was originally reported as May 27, 1908, but researchers have found her date of birth was most likely 11 days later.

The 116-year-old had a somber beginning as she was so skinny, many people thought she wouldn’t survive childhood, LongeviQuest wrote on its website.

Lucas, who is the great-granddaughter of General David Canabarro, a Ragamuffin War leader, was 16 years old when she began studying at the Santa Teresa de Jesus boarding school in Santana do Livramento, Rio Grande do Sul, according to LongeviQuest.

At 17 years old, she was baptized in Santana do Livramento. She later moved to Montevideo, Uruguay to be confirmed in the Catholic Church on Oct. 1 1929, at 21 years old. She returned to Brazil the next year to teach Portuguese and mathematics at a school in Tijuca, a Rio de Janeiro neighborhood, LongeviQuest reported.

She renewed her vows for the first time three years later in Rio de Janeiro, then again in 1933. 

In July 1934, at 26 years old, Lucas took her perpetual vows and officially became a nun, according to LongeviQuest. Throughout her life, she has worked as a teacher, a professor and a secretary. She retired in 1995, the organization said.

In addition to her religion, Lucas also has a passion for soccer, LongeviQuest said, calling her “a devoted supporter of Sport Club Internacional.”

“Whether rich or poor, it doesn’t matter – it’s for the people,” she said in a news release on LongeviQuest’s website. 

As for her living so long, Lucas said it was nothing but the Lord.

“He is the secret of life,” she said. “He is the secret of everything.”

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Follow her on Twitter at @SaleenMartin or email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.

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