World's oldest person, 116-year-old Maria Branyas, receives visit from president Aragonès

The world's oldest living person, 116-year-old Maria Branyas, received a special visit on Saturday as Catalan president Pere Aragonès and social rights minister Carles Campuzano called in to Santa Maria del Tura care home in Olot. 

The 'Catalan Super Granny', as she calls herself on Twitter, has lived through a lot – two world wars, the Spanish Civil War and two global pandemics a century apart – so it's safe to she wasn't fazed at meeting the dignitaries. And after all, Branyas was already 76 years old when president Aragonès was born. 

Campuzano posted a picture of the meeting on Twitter, saying he and the president had wanted to say hello to Branyas. 

"It was a pleasure talking to her and her family! Thanks for your time!" he wrote. 

Branyas made headlines around the world when she survived a bout of Covid-19 aged 113. She became the world's oldest living person in January 2023 and celebrated her 116th birthday in March. 

Learn more about Maria Branyas' life in the podcast below, which features an interview with her from 2019.