



A Harley-Davidson motorcycle signed by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI and presented to Pope Francis in a spectacular blessing ceremony will be sold by Bonhams in Paris this February.

The bike, part of the brand’s 110th anniversary celebrations, was one of two Harleys blessed with the Pope’s signature before he resigned due to ill health last year. It was also presented to the newly inaugurated Pope Francis in a ceremony in front of tens of thousands of Harley-Davidson enthusiasts in October 2013.

Ben Walker, International Director for Bonhams Motorcycle Department, said that the auction house expected the motorbike to generate “a lot of interest”, given its involvement in a pivotal period in the papacy of the Catholic Church.

The ‘holy Harley’ – a FLSTC 103 Heritage Softail Classic – is expected to sell for between £12,000 and £20,000. It will be auctioned in aid of the Polish charity Friendly World Association (Stowarzyszenie Przyjazny Swiat Dziecka), which provides care and support to children and families in need.

Bonhams’ Les Grandes Marques du Monde sale takes place February 5 at the Grand Palais in Paris.