Pope Francis’ 1585cc Harley-Davidson Dyna Super Glide sold for €241,500 (£200,200) after a six-minute bidding war at the Bonhams Paris sale.
A Harley-Davidson motorcycle jacket also sold for €57,500 (£47,700) at the sale which took place as part of Bonhams’ Les Grandes Marques du Monde sale at the Grand Palais.
The Harley – with the Pope’s autograph on the tank – and the leather jacket were the first two lots of the 45-strong motorcycle sale to go under the hammer. The hundreds watching the sale applauded when the hammer came down on the motorcycle after being won by a telephone bidder.
The items, which were donated to Pope Francis by the motorcycle manufacturer in June 2013, were bought by separate bidders – with the motorcycle going to a private buyer in Europe, and the jacket to an overseas buyer.
Funds raised by the machine and the jacket will go towards the renovation of the Caritas Roma’s Don Luigi di Liegro hostel and soup kitchen based at Rome’s Termini railway station.