A Harley-Davidson Super Glide and matching jacket signed by Pope Francis shattered sales expectations when it went on the block Thursday at the Bonhams’ Les Grandes Marques du Monde auction at the Grand Palais in Paris.
The Harley – signed by Pope Francis during a special ceremony at the Vatican in November, and the jacket bought in over $400,000.
All the funds raises will help fund the renovation of the Caritas Roma’s Don Luigi di Liegro hostel and soup kitchen based at Rome’s Termini railway station.
Bonhams says the hostel opened 30 years ago to help the homeless, jobless and the poor, and the money raised by the Harley Davidson’s sale will allow it to continue to provide food and accommodation to more than 1,000 people in need every day.
Ben Walker (Head of Motorcycles at Bonhams) says: “I am thrilled with the result achieved and am very pleased for the charity. It has to be a world record for a twenty-first century Harley-Davidson and certainly for a Harley-Davidson leather jacket.”
Enrico Feroci (Director of Caritas Roma, added: “We are delighted with the results of the sale, which far exceeded any of our expectations. We would like to thank Bonhams for their professionalism with handling the motorcycle and for all their efforts in helping us to achieve such an amazing result.”
