A soccer-loving nun from Brazil is believed to have become the world’s oldest person at nearly 117 years old, crediting her longevity to her strong Catholic faith.
LongeviQuest, an organization that tracks supercentenarians around the world, announced in a statement Saturday that Sister Ina Canabarro is the world’s oldest person, confirmed by records of her early life.
On December 26, 2024, Tomiko Itooka died in Japan at the age of 116. The nun, who is now in a wheelchair, was crowned the oldest living person in the world.
After the elderly woman was hospitalized twice, her nephew spent time with her every Saturday and sent her voice messages between visits to keep her spirits up.
“Other sisters said she was shocked when she heard my voice,” he said. “She’s excited.”
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In this photo posted by LongeviQuest, 116-year-old Sister Inah Canabarro puts her hands together in prayer on Friday, February 16, 2024, in Porto Alegre, Brazil. (Carlos Macedo/LongeviQuest via AP)
According to LongeviQuest researchers, Canabarro was born on June 8, 1908, into a large family in southern Brazil. But her nephew said her birth was registered two weeks late and she was actually born on May 27, 1908.
When she was a teenager, she turned to religious work and spent two years in Montevideo, Uruguay, before moving to Rio de Janeiro and eventually settling in her native Rio Grande do Sul state.
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Pope Francis celebrated her 110th birthday. She is the second oldest nun on record, after Lucile Randon, who was the world’s oldest nun until her death in 2023. 118 years old.
Pope Francis holds a rosary during the closing Mass of the Synod of Bishops in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican on October 29, 2023. (Ricardo DeLuca/Anadolu, Getty Images)
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In addition to her lifelong commitment to her faith, she was also passionate about her local football club Inter Milan. The club was formed after Canabarro’s birth and celebrates her birthday every year as its oldest fan.
Her nephew said her room was decorated with red and white gifts from the team.
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“White or black, rich or poor, no matter who you are, Inter Milan is the people’s team,” she said in a video posted on social media celebrating her 116th birthday with the club’s president.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
