![\"\"](\"https:\/\/panoramitalia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Santini-2-1.jpg\")
This award opened the doors to the world of fashion, and his future seemed clear: He was destined to become a big star. However, God\u2019s plans were different. Santini was going to continue shining, but away from the spotlight and catwalks.<\/p>
A courageous first step<\/h3>
In a video posted on social media Nov. 23, Santini explained that he is on his way \u201cto become, God willing, a priest.\u201d<\/p>
He says that during these years he has met people who, \u201cby showing me what it means to \u2018be Church,\u2019 have given me the strength to investigate this question that I had been carrying around since I was little\u201d but which, he says, \u201cI didn\u2019t delve into because of fear.\u201d<\/p>
In January 2020 he discovered \u201cthe real Church,\u201d and that was when on social media he began to talk about God and the call he felt.<\/p> \u201cLiving in God doesn\u2019t mean locking yourself inside the church but rather living one\u2019s life more fully,\u201d he told his more than 11,000 followers on Instagram.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure> He also mentioned the opposition of his grandmother, who \u201cexpected something else\u201d from her grandson. However, he stressed that he didn\u2019t feel \u201calone\u201d in his decision and that he was \u201ctired of satisfying the will of others and posting photos where I am apparently secure and happy.\u201d<\/p> The young man from the Tuscany region took \u201ca first step\u201d and last year he went to live with two priests, which he described as \u201cthe most beautiful experience of my life.\u201d<\/p> Sharing his daily life with the priests allowed him to \u201cfind in everyday life the answer that I hoped for, which has come to me from above.\u201d<\/p> \u201cAt the end of the year, it was natural for me to ask the bishop to enter the preparatory course, the year preceding life in the seminary. And here I am, studying theology and serving in two parishes of the Diocese of Florence,\u201d he said in his video.<\/p> He also shared that he was slow in taking the first step \u201cfor fear of not being accepted\u201d and that making this decision was something \u201cthat terrified him\u201d although, he said honestly, \u201cI built more walls for myself than there were.\u201d<\/p>