I AM POPE, Volume I is a sacramental thriller about a half-deaf priest/carpenter named Cassian who is secretly elected pope by a hidden conclave and becomes Pope Paschal, shepherd of a breakaway microchurch in the forgotten town of St. Anthony. He hears brief “Hearings,” one line at a time, and builds a faith that runs on small mercies, open doors, and a civic pause of three heartbeats on the hour. While Rome dismisses them, rumors and miracles wrestle in the streets, a counterfeit scripture ignites, and a pink lantern to Saint Avamarie refuses to go out. A reluctant love grows between Paschal and his closest cardinal, Rafael, as stewards, nuns, Jesuits, and ordinary workers become living saints by repairing stairs, ferry ramps, and bruised lives. Part mystery, part liturgy, this first book in the I AM POPE series asks a fierce question: is he a prophet, an impostor, or simply a man who keeps Christ at the center and teaches a city to breathe?