116-year-old Brazilian nun is oldest woman in the world, credits Catholic faith with longevity

CV NEWS FEED // Sister Inah Canabarro, a 116-year-old nun from Porto Alegre, Brazil, is the world’s oldest person, the Associated Press recently reported. She said the secret to her old age is her Catholic faith.

The company LongeviQuest declared Jan. 4 that Sister Inah is the world’s oldest person. She is the second-oldest nun in history after Sister Lucile Randon, who died at the age of 118 in 2023.

Sister Inah was born into a large family on June 8, 1908, according to records, but her nephew said that her birth was recorded two weeks late, and her real birthday is May 27.

Many of Sister Inah’s relatives and friends did not think she would survive childhood because she was so skinny, her nephew Cleber Canabarro said. Now, her age is celebrated around the world.

When Sister Inah turned 110, Pope Francis honored her, and Porto Alegre’s soccer team Inter celebrates Sister Inah every year on her birthday, as she is their oldest fan. Her nephew says that her room is decorated with the team’s colors.

Sister Inah’s great-grandfather was a famous Brazilian general in the 19th century. She taught her whole life, and one of her students was General João Figueiredo, who was the last ruler in a military dictatorship that lasted from 1964 to 1985. Some credit this government with saving Brazil from communism. 

Sister Inah also founded two school marching bands.

Now, Sister Inah spends her Saturdays with her 84-year-old nephew, who makes sure to send her voice messages during the week, especially after two hospitalizations left her feeling weak.

“The other sisters say she gets a jolt when she hears my voice,” Cabanarro said. “She gets excited.”