Sanctum



"Sanctum" is a profound journey of faith and disillusionment, charting the soul-searching path of Paolo Santiago, a priest working in the heart of the powerful Curia. For years, Paolo believed he served God, but the polished marble halls and hushed conversations slowly reveal a stark truth: the institution he loves is rife with hypocrisy, cover-ups, and cold political maneuvering.

As his faith in the Church fractures, Paolo grapples with a searing question: Is belief truly worth it, or can a loving person simply be good without divine command? Driven by a crisis of conscience, he makes the agonizing decision to abandon his priestly vows and the only life he's ever known, stepping into a terrifying secular world.

Stripped of his clerical identity and societal status, Paolo must navigate the humbling reality of starting from scratch. But in the quiet struggle for an honest living and unexpected connections, he uncovers a profound, newfound wisdom: that true love requires no mandate, and genuine sanctity is found not in gilded cathedrals, but in the radical simplicity of human kindness.

"Sanctum" is a testament to the courage it takes to redefine one's purpose, proving that sometimes, leaving the most sacred of places is the only way to find your own, unburdened truth.

Read the full story here:

Sanctum

Sanctum Vol.2 - The Gospel of Humanity


The Gilded Cage: Finding Unburdened Truth Beyond the "Sanctum" 

What happens when the path you believe leads to God turns out to be paved with human flaws and political maneuvering? Berns Pen’s profound story, "Sanctum," takes us on a heartbreaking and courageous journey of faith, disillusionment, and the radical discovery of genuine goodness.

The Curia and the Crisis of Conscience

We meet Paolo Santiago, a priest whose life has been dedicated to service within the powerful, polished marble halls of the Curia. For years, he believed he was serving God. Yet, the hushed conversations and the rigid institutional structure slowly begin to reveal a stark and painful truth: the institution he loves is rife with hypocrisy, cover-ups, and cold political maneuvering.

As the foundation of his faith in the Church fractures, Paolo grapples with a searing, existential question that challenges the very core of his identity: Is belief truly worth it, or can a loving person simply be good without divine command?

This crisis of conscience is the engine of the story, forcing Paolo to make the agonizing decision to abandon his priestly vows and step away from the only life he has ever known.

Stepping into the Terrifying Secular World

The transition is brutal. Stripped of his clerical identity, the respect he commanded, and his societal status, Paolo must navigate the humbling reality of starting life completely from scratch. The secular world is vast and terrifying—a place where his spiritual training offers no practical advantage.

But it is in this quiet struggle for an honest living and in forging unexpected connections that Paolo begins to unburden his soul and uncover a profound, newfound wisdom.

The Radical Simplicity of Kindness

Paolo’s journey proves that the sacred is not confined to gilded cathedrals. His ultimate realization is transformative:

  • True love requires no mandate. It is an inherent human capacity, not a divine command or an institutional requirement.

  • Genuine sanctity is found not in high-stakes Curia politics, but in the radical simplicity of human kindness—the small, honest moments of connection and grace found in everyday life.

"Sanctum" is more than just a story of a priest leaving the priesthood; it is a testament to the courage it takes to redefine one's purpose. It powerfully argues that sometimes, leaving the most sacred of places—the place of highest institutional authority—is the only way to find your own, truest, unburdened truth.

What do you think is the hardest thing for someone to give up when they leave a life of immense power and status?

Location: Philippines

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