BRASILIA — Inah Canabarro Lucas, a Brazilian nun recognized as the world’s oldest person, has died at the age of 116.

The Congregation of Teresian Sisters of Brazil announced her death in a statement, praising her life of “dedication and devotion.”

Born on 8 June 1908, she became the world’s oldest person earlier this year following the death of Japanese woman Tomiko Itooka, who also died aged 116.

On her 110th birthday, Lucas received a special blessing from Pope Francis, who died last week aged 88.

When asked about the secret to her longevity, she attributed it to God: "He is the secret of life. He is the secret of everything.”

The nun was also a fan of the Sport Club Internacional football club in Porto Alegre. The club paid tribute to her in a post on X, celebrating her "legacy of spirituality and compassion.”

It is also worth noting that Brazil is also home to the oldest man in the world.

João Marinho Neto from Ceara, who is 112 years old, has been confirmed by the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest man in the world.

With the death of Inah Canabarro Lucas, the title of the oldest person in the world now passes to Ethel Caterham, a resident of Surrey, England, who is now 115 years and 252 days old, according to the US-based Gerontological Research Group (GRG) and the LongeviQuest database.

Born on 21 August 1909, in Shipton Bellinger, Hampshire, Caterham is thought to be the last surviving subject of Edward VII.

Upon turning 115 last year, she became only the third British person to ever reach this age. — Euronews