Pope Leo XIV’s Custom BMW R 18 to Be Auctioned for Charity

BMW will display the customised R 18 Transcontinental at BMW Welt in Munich from 15 September to 7 October 2025, giving enthusiasts and pilgrims alike a chance to see the papal bike up close before the October auction.

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BMW Motorrad Deutschland has gifted Pope Leo XIV a one-off BMW R 18 Transcontinental, finished in gleaming Mother-of-Pearl White and adorned with the Vatican coat of arms. Motorrad dealership Witzel and Thomas Draxler, founder of the Jesus-Biker club, customised the unique machine.

A Papal Motorcycle With a Mission

The bike carries Pope Leo’s signature on the tank, but it’s unlikely the pontiff will be cruising around Rome on it. Sotheby’s will auction the motorcycle in October 2025, and Missio Austria will direct the proceeds to children’s aid projects in Madagascar.

BMW Motorrad CEO Markus Flasch described the initiative as a happy marriage of passion and purpose:

“What initially sounded more like a crazy idea has developed into a great charity campaign. I am happy that we at BMW Motorrad can support aid projects for children in Madagascar with our R18 Transcontinental. I would also like to thank Pope Leo XIV for taking the time to support this project.”

Following Papal Tradition

This isn’t the first time the Vatican has embraced motorcycles for a good cause. In 2013, Pope Francis received a Harley-Davidson and a leather jacket for Harley’s 110th anniversary. Both were auctioned a year later, fetching over USD 350,000 for charity. In 2019, Pope Francis was also presented with a white Harley by Jesus-Biker.

Pope Leo XIV, then, is following in his predecessor’s wheel tracks but with a distinctly Bavarian twist.

The Peace Ride to Rome

The R 18’s journey began on 31 August 2025 with a symbolic “Peace Ride” from Motorrad Witzel in Sennfeld to Rome. Along the way, the convoy of mostly BMW R 18 motorcycles made stops in Schaafheim, Altötting, and Verona, each marked by church services. Members of Jesus-Biker, BMW Motorrad Germany, and BMW Witzel took part in the ride, underscoring the community spirit behind the project.

On 3 September 2025, Markus Flasch and Michael Sommer, head of BMW Motorrad Germany, officially presented the motorcycle to Pope Leo XIV. The pontiff blessed the machine and signed it, sealing its status as a true collector’s piece.

From Rome to Munich and Beyond

BMW will display the customised R 18 Transcontinental at BMW Welt in Munich from 15 September to 7 October 2025, giving enthusiasts and pilgrims alike a chance to see the papal bike up close before the October auction.

Whether it becomes a museum centrepiece or a prized addition to a collector’s garage, the motorcycle’s real value lies in the lives it will help improve. For BMW Motorrad and the Vatican, it’s proof that even the rumble of a big boxer twin can carry a message of hope and charity.