Assunta Alma Bellotti

BIOGRAPHY

Assunta Alma Bellotti was born in Verona, Veneto, Italy, on 20 February 1907. The third of ten children, she was born into a humble and deeply Catholic family; her father was a cobbler, and her mother a housewife.

She began working as a seamstress at a very young age, but by the time she was around twenty, she felt a calling to become a nun. Her confessor guided her toward the “Red Cross” of St. Camillus de Lellis, and on 5 January 1931, accompanied by her father and brother, she entered the Institute of the Ministers of the ill of Lucca. After completing her novitiate, she took her vows on 16 July 1932.

Throughout her life, she dedicated herself to serving the sick and mentoring new vocations, working in various locations, including Forte dei Marmi, Rome—where she earned her nursing diploma—Turin, Camaiore, and Viareggio.

In 2000, at the age of 93, she retired to the motherhouse in Lucca. After celebrating her 100th birthday with a pilgrimage to Lourdes, she marked another milestone in 2014 during the 400th anniversary of the death of St. Camillus de Lellis. That year, she celebrated her birthday in Rome, where she attended morning Mass at the Domus Santa Marta, celebrated by Pope Francis, and received his blessing.

When asked about the secret to her longevity, she replied, “Listening to the voice of Christ and being obedient to His will. Throughout my life, I have always believed that wherever the Lord places me is exactly where I am meant to be.”

Assunta Alma Bellotti passed away in Lucca, Tuscany, Italy, on 27 May 2017, at the age of 110 years, 96 days.

RECOGNITION

Her age is currently under review by the European Supercentenarian Organisation (ESO).

ATTRIBUTION

* “I 108 anni di suor Candida, la religiosa più vecchia del mondo” – Corriere della Sera, 18 February 2015

* “Suor Candida Bellotti, 109 anni di gioia e vocazione fedele sull’esempio di san Camillo” – Famiglia Cristiana, 8 March 2016

* “Suor Candida compie 110 anni: per lei la benedizione di Papa Francesco” – Il Tirreno, 18 February 2017

* “A Lucca suor Candida compie 110 anni, è la monaca più anziana d’Italia” – La Nazione, 20 February 2017

GALLERY

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