World’s oldest man credits longevity to devotion to God

Originally published in Premier Christian News

The world’s oldest man has passed away just one month shy of his 115th birthday. Juan Vicente Perez, from Venezuela, was bestowed the title of the world’s oldest living man by Guinness World Records in 2022, when he was 112 years and 253 days old.

When asked about his secret for longevity, Juan Vicente Perez  said: “Work hard, rest on holidays, go to bed early, drink a glass of aguardiente [a sugar-based liquor] every day, love God, and always carry Him in your heart.”

Local news outlets reported that his recent birthdays were marked with Catholic services and family gatherings, with congratulations pouring in from Venezuela’s President, Nicolas Maduro, and other national politicians. Known affectionately as ‘Tio Juan’ (Uncle Juan), he was born on May 27 1909.

The death of this supercentenarian was confirmed by Freddy Bernal, governor of Táchira, Venezuela, where Perez resided, as per the Guinness Book Of World Records.

The politician penned a heartfelt tribute on X, stating: “Today, with deep sadness and pain, we bid farewell to our dear Juan Vicente Perez Mora, the epitome of a Tachira man—humble, hardworking, peace-loving, and devoted to family and tradition.”

“Dear Don Vicente, we shall always remember him for his optimism, faith, hope, and profound love for our state of Táchira,” he added.

The exact cause of Perez’s death remains unclear. He was married to Ediofina del Rosario García for 60 years, until her passing in 1997. The couple had six sons and five daughters. Their family has since expanded to include 41 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and 12 great-great-grandchildren.

Speaking to the Spanish-language sister agency of the Catholic News Agency, ACI Prensa, his nephew Freddy Abreu said Mora wanted to be remembered “as a hardworking man, faithful to his wife and his religion”.

 111-year-old Briton John Tinniswood has now inherited the Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest man. 

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