Pope Leo XIV receives custom BMW motorcycle

The pope was presented with a white BMW R18 by a biker group, which will be auctioned to raise funds for children in need.

On 3/9, around 30 black-jacketed members of the Christian Jesus Biker group arrived at St. Peter's Square in Vatican City to present Pope Leo XIV with a custom BMW R18 for charity.

The pope met the bikers at the end of his general audience. The group had traveled to Rome for mass after a three-day ride from Schaafheim, Germany.

The pope blessed the white motorcycle, signed it, and sat on it to the applause of the crowd. The motorcycle will be auctioned in Munich on 18/10, with proceeds going to support children working in mica mines in Madagascar through the charity Missio Austria.

Pope Leo XIV sits on the BMW R18 at the Vatican on 3/9. Photo: AFP

Pope Leo XIV sits on the BMW R18 at the Vatican on 3/9. Photo: AFP

Father Karl Wallner, director of Missio Austria, said the bikers’ journey wasn’t just “for fun” but also to help the “poorest of the poor.”

He added that Pope Leo XIV seemed to enjoy motorcycles. “He told the BMW CEO that he himself likes to ride motorcycles. I think we have the first motorcycle-riding pope,” Wallner said.

Pope Leo XIV’s signature on the fuel tank and his crest on the engine cover. Photo: Vatican News

Pope Leo XIV’s signature on the fuel tank and his crest on the engine cover. Photo: Vatican News

The two-cylinder, boxer-engine motorcycle was customized with papal styling by the German company Witzel. The Vatican leader is also an honorary member of the Jesus Biker group, which has over 100 members worldwide.

The late Pope Francis received two Harley-Davidson motorcycles and a motorcycle jacket from Harley bikers in 2013. One of the motorcycles, signed by the pope, and the leather jacket were auctioned for over 350,000 USD for a Rome charity in 2014.