Pope's Harley-Davidson to be auctioned for charity

A Harley-Davidson Softail Heritage carrying the signature of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, and later received by Pope Francis will be put on auction in 2015. The proceeds from the auction will be donated to the Stowarzyszenie Przyjazny Zwiat Dziecka (Friendly World Association), a Polish volunteer, independent, non-profit organization that offers care and support to children and families in need. In October 2013, when Harley-Davidson was celebrating its 110th anniversary in Italy, Pope Benedict signed two Harley Davidson tanks that was sent back to Milwaukee and installed on their respective motorcycles.

The motorcycle was supposed to be presented to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI but he stepped down in January 2013 because of which the Harley-Davidson Softail was handed over to the newly inaugurated Pope, his holiness Pope Francis. One of the two signed motorcycles is on display at the Harley-Davidson museum and the latter is the motorcycle which would be put on auction. The auction for Pope’s Harley-Davidson will be held on February 5th, 2015 at the Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais event in Paris, France. The motorcycle will be auctioned off by Bonhams and no reserve price has been kept but it is estimated that the Pope’s Harley will sell for around £ 20,000 or around Rs 20 lakh. 

Speaking about the auction, Ben Walker, International Director for Bonhams Motorcycle Department, said, “It's an honour to have been selected to sell this fantastic machine. We expect a lot of interest, and hope to raise some spirited bidding for the very worthy charity selected. In February 2014, Bonhams sold 1,585cc Harley-Davidson Dyna Super Glide signed by His Holiness Pope Francis. Now we're delighted to offer a motorcycle received by both Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI; it was present during a pivotal period in the papacy of the Catholic Church, and we expect a lot of interest in it.”