Pope Francis’ Harley Davidson goes under the hammer next month to raise funds for Caritas Roma, a charity working on behalf of the church. The head of the Roman Catholic Church received the motorcycle last year, as a gift to mark the 110th anniversary of the brand. It’s unclear if the pope actually rode it, but the 1,585cc Harley-Davidson Dyna Super Glide has been signed by His Holiness.
“I suspect that it will (have) a very limited mileage,” said Ben Walker, head of motorcycles at Bonhams.
A Harley Davidson leather jacket also signed by the pope will be sold immediately after the motorcycle.
It is estimated that the motorbike will fetch up to €15,000 ($20,500) at auction in Paris, scheduled for February 6th. The Harley Davidson will be auctioned at the Grand Palais in Paris as part of Bonham’s Les Grandes Marques du Monde sale.
Funds from this sale will be used in the renovation of the Caritas Roma’s Don Luigi di Liegro hostel and soup kitchen based at Rome’s Termini railway station. The hostel currently provides food and accommodation for more than 1,000 poor, homeless, and unemployed people a day.
