MIAMI (AP) — A soccer-loving nun from Brazil is believed to have become the world’s oldest living person at nearly 117 following the recent death of a woman from Japan. Sister Inah Canabarro was so thin growing up that many doubted her survival through childhood, as recounted by her 84-year-old nephew, Cleber Canabarro, to The Associated Press.
LongeviQuest, an organization that monitors supercentenarians worldwide, announced on Saturday that the wheelchair-bound nun has been validated as the world’s oldest person based on early life records. In a video captured by the organization in February, Canabarro can be seen joyfully sharing anecdotes, displaying miniature paintings of wildflowers that she used to create, and reciting the Hail Mary prayer.
When asked about the secret to her longevity, Canabarro attributes it to her strong Catholic faith. “I’m young, pretty, and friendly — all very good, positive qualities that you have too,” she warmly tells visitors at her retirement home in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Despite facing health challenges that have affected her speech, she remains spirited and engaged with the support of her nephew, who visits her every Saturday and sends her uplifting voice messages.
Canabarro was born on June 8, 1908, into a large family in southern Brazil, though her birth was officially recorded two weeks later, indicating her actual birthdate as May 27. Her great-grandfather, a renowned Brazilian general, played a notable role during the tumultuous period following Brazil’s independence from Portugal in the 19th century.
Entering religious life as a teenager, Canabarro spent time in Montevideo, Uruguay, before relocating to Rio de Janeiro and eventually returning to her native state of Rio Grande do Sul. A dedicated educator, she once taught General Joao Figueiredo, the final military dictator to rule Brazil between 1964 and 1985. Additionally, she fondly remembered for establishing two marching bands in schools located in sister cities along the Uruguay-Brazil border.
On her 110th birthday, Canabarro received recognition from Pope Francis for her remarkable life. She holds the distinction of being the second oldest documented nun, following Lucile Randon, who held the title of the world’s oldest person until her passing in 2023 at the age of 118.
The local soccer club Inter, which was founded post Canabarro’s birth, annually commemorates the birthday of their oldest supporter. Her room is adorned with gifts featuring the team’s red and white colors, a testament to her unwavering dedication to the club. “White or black, rich or poor, whoever you are, Inter is the team of the people,” she proudly declares in a video shared on social media to mark her 116th birthday alongside the club’s president.
Following the demise of Japan’s Tomiko Itooka in December, Canabarro ascended to the position of the oldest
