Jolie Lee

USA TODAY Network

A Hells Angel he is not, but Pope Francis does own a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

The pontiff is putting his bike on sale to raise money for the charity Caritas Roma, which works on behalf of the Roman Catholic Church to help the needy. Funds from the motorcycle sale will go toward renovating the charity's hostel and soup kitchen based at Rome's Termini railway station.

Harley-Davidson gave Francis the Harley Dyna Super Glide motorcycle in June 2013, when thousands of bikers descended on the Vatican to celebrate the 110th anniversary of the American motorcycle maker. The company also gave Francis two white classic Harleys for the Vatican police force to use.

The Pope never rode the motorcycle, or any other motorcycle, said Rev. Thomas Rosica, English language assistant to the Holy See Press Office.

"I suspect it has very limited mileage," said Ben Walker, head of the motorcycle department at Bonhams auction house. Bonhams is auctioning the Harley on Feb. 6 in Paris.

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The motorcycle has the pope's signature on the tank and is valued at $16,000 to $20,000. Also up for sale is his signed Harley leather motorcycle jacket, size XL.

His Holiness is sticking to more modest means of transportation -- a Ford Focus.

Contributing: The Associated Press