Pope’s Harley-Davidson to go on sale

In this file picture taken on June 12, 2013, Pope Francis looks at a Harley Davidson motorcycle after the weekly audience in Saint Peter’s square at the Vatican. A Harley-Davidson motorcycle that was once given to Pope Francis by the manufacturer is to go on sale next month in Paris, a British auction house said on Monday, Jan. 13, 2014. The 1,585cc Dyna Super Glide was given to the pope in June to mark the 110th anniversary of the US motorbike maker, London-based auctioneer Bonhams said. AFP PHOTO/OSSERVATORE ROMANO

LONDON—A Harley-Davidson motorcycle that was once given to Pope Francis by the manufacturer is to go on sale next month in Paris, a British auction house said Monday.

The 1,585cc Dyna Super Glide was given to the pope in June to mark the 110th anniversary of the US motorbike maker, London-based auctioneer Bonhams said.

The bike, which is signed by Pope Francis on the petrol tank, is expected to fetch between 12,000 euros and 15,000 euros ($16,400 and $20,500) when it goes on sale at the Grand Palais in Paris on Feb. 6.

The pope donated the Harley in November to the Roman Catholic charity Caritas Roma and the funds from the sale will go toward the restoration of its Don Luigi di Liegro hostel and soup kitchen based at Rome’s Termini railway station.

“We are incredibly honored to be selling this item on behalf of Caritas Roma,” said Ben Walker, head of motorcycles at Bonhams.

“We hope to be able to do both Pope Francis and Harley-Davidson proud by raising a significant amount of money for a very worthy cause.”

Pope Francis, 77, is not thought to have ridden the Harley, a make well known for its use by motorbike gangs including the “Hells Angels.”

The famously humble pontiff is more of a fan of buses. He opted to ride one the day after his election last year instead of taking a limousine, and regularly used them in his homeland Argentina instead of taxis.