Vatican News: Pope Francis' Harley Sells For $327 Thousand

Pope Francis' Harley-Davidson motorcycle has sold at a charity auction in Paris for 241,500 Euros ($327,000). The Bonham auction house revealed that the anonymous buyer agreed to pay a great deal more than the expected pre sale price of 12,000 Euros ($16,000) at the auction at Paris' Grand Palais. A Harley-Davidson leather jacket signed by the pontiff sold for 57,500 Euros including fees. Money from the sale will be donated to Caritas Roma, which runs a soup kitchen and hostel for the homeless in Rome.

Pope Francis' Harley was a Dyna Super Glide Custom 2013 and had the Pope's signature. The motorcycle and the jacket were gifts from Harley-Davidson owner, Willie G. Davidson, who gave both items to the pontiff last June when he was in Rome celebrating the 110th anniversary of the company. At the ceremony, thousands of motorcycles rode down Rome's Vía de la Conciliación and even received the Pope's blessing, who, however reminded people that "the power of pleasure provokes the substitution of God for human idols."

Pope Francis announced in October that hew would be donating the proceeds of the sale to Cáritas Roma, who indicated that they would be using the money to restore a food hall in a homeless shelter called Don Luigi di Liegro in Termini train station in Rome. The Pope's motorcycle was the star product in an auction that included over 300 luxury vehicles including Rolls Royce, Facel Vega, Cadillac and Panhard which had been viewed by multiple potential buyers. The Harley was bought in just six minutes by a phone bidder.