Supplement your motorcycle insurance with spiritual cover as Pope Leo XIV blesses a BMW R 18 Transcontinental which will be auctioned for charity in October 2025.
The specially modified R 18 was donated by BMW Motorrad Deutschland and refined by BMW Motorrad Dealer Witzel, including being painted in mother-of-pearl white with the Vatican coat of arms. The idea for the bike came from Witzel and Thomas Draxler, the founder of JESUS-BIKER, with the BMW starting a ‘Peace Ride’ to Rome accompanied by church services and riders from BMW and JESUS-BIKER.
It also features a tag dedicated to Pope Leo XIV on the engine block, a ‘peace’ script on the top box, and a unique white leather seat.
After arriving at the Vatican, it was presented to the Pope for blessing and signing by Markus Flasch, CEO of BMW Motorrad, and Michael Sommer, head of BMW Motorrad Germany.
Markus Flasch: “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.”
The modified BMW R 19 Transcontinental blessed and signed by Pope LEO XIV will be auctioned by Missio Austria via Sotheby’s on October 2025 with proceeds going to children’s aid projects in Madagascar.
It currently as an estimate of 40-60,000 Euros but is being sold without reserve as part of the Munich Motorworl auction on October 18th. You can see more and register to bid, here.
Keep up with the latest on new, modified and special BMW motorcycles, here. And if you can’t quite stretch to a blessed BMW, then you can find other examples for sale on eBay right now.
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