POPE LEO XIV
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Whenever asked how she was doing, Sr. Inah Canabarro Lucas had a favorite playful response: “Each day, I feel younger and more beautiful!” according to El Pais.
It’s the kind of lighthearted joy one might not expect from a 116-year-old nun. Yet this Brazilian sister, who until her passing on April 30, 2025, was the world’s oldest living person, truly radiated a youthful spirit. Her warmth and wit were a reflection of the deep faith that sustained her through more than a century of life.
A lifetime of devotion and joy
Known affectionately as Sr. Inah, Inah Canabarro Lucas spent nearly a hundred years in religious life. Born in 1908 in Brazil, she felt called to serve God from a young age. She began her religious journey as a teenager, eventually professing vows with the Teresian Sisters (Society of Saint Teresa of Jesus) and teaching mathematics to countless students during her active years, as shared by LongeviQuest.
Her days in the convent were marked by humble service and prayer, rhythms of life she carried with her well into her supercentenarian years. Even as her age advanced, Sr. Inah remained surprisingly healthy and mentally sharp, greeting each day with gratitude.
Faith was the cornerstone of Sr. Inah’s remarkable longevity. When asked about the secret to her long life, she didn’t credit genetics or diet. Instead, with a serene smile, she pointed to her trust in God and simply said:
“He is the secret of life. He is the secret of everything."
For Sister Inah, every extra year was “a gift from the Lord” – a grace to be embraced with thanksgiving and used for prayer. Indeed, her family recalls that even in her final months she was mindful of others’ needs. Her nephew shared that during a recent flooding tragedy in southern Brazil, the elderly nun “prayed a lot for the victims," offering up her days for those who were suffering. It was emblematic of her character: Even at 116, her vocation of prayer and compassion continued strong.
Simplicity and gratitude marked Sr. Inah’s long life. In fact, in 2018, when she turned 110, she received a special Apostolic Blessing from Pope Francis in recognition of her milestone. The papal blessing, which she proudly kept in her convent, was a testament to her lifetime of fidelity.
Yet Sr. Inah remained ever humble. She had few material needs and found joy in simple pleasures. One of those joys was soccer – just like the late Pope Francis -- and she was an avid fan of Porto Alegre’s Internacional team, and loved its inclusive spirit.
“Whether rich or poor, it doesn’t matter — it’s for the people!” she once exclaimed about her favorite team, as shared by LongeviQuest. It was a small delight that highlighted her down-to-earth nature and her ability to find happiness in ordinary things.
Following in Sr. André’s footsteps
Sr. Inah’s story calls to mind another holy woman who lived to an extraordinary age: Sr. André (born Lucile Randon), a French Daughter of Charity who held the title of world’s oldest person before Sr. Inah. Sr. André died in January 2023 at the age of 118, after a long life of service and prayer.
Like Sr. Inah, she was known for her cheerful witness of faith and clear perspective on what truly matters. When asked the inevitable question about the secret to her longevity, Sr. André answered with characteristic humility:
“I’ve no idea what the secret is. Only God can answer that question.”
Having lived through two world wars and countless trials, she readily acknowledged that her many years were a blessing from above, not any human accomplishment. This gentle French nun kept a young-at-heart spirit even in extreme old age – praying daily, caring for others in her retirement home, and even enjoying a little chocolate and a daily glass of wine as simple gifts of God’s providence, as we've previously reported.
Her joy was contagious, and she often said that her greatest satisfaction was knowing she had helped others in life and trusted in God’s plan each day.
Quiet acts of love
Both Sr. Inah and Sr. André demonstrate that a life rooted in prayer, service, and simplicity can bear fruit for well over a century. Their extraordinary longevity was not spent in pursuit of personal gain, but in quiet acts of love and devotion.
These women religious show us that aging gracefully is about more than just reaching a certain number of years – it’s about how one lives those years. In the words of Sr. Inah, God is the true “secret” to a life well-lived.
