Many riders cherish their bikes, however not many people have requested the pope himself to bless our bikes. That’s simply what BMW did when Pope Leo XIV was requested to bless and signal a modified BMW R 18 Transcontinental at an occasion on the Vatican on Sept. 3, 2025. The signed bike might be auctioned by Missio Austria by Sotheby’s in October to assist fund kids’s help tasks in Madagascar.
The challenge was conceived by BMW Motorrad seller Witzel and Thomas Draxler, founding father of Jesus-Biker, and it was donated to public sale by BMW Motorrad Deutschland. Witzel added mother-of-pearl white paint and a coat of arms of the Vatican to the bike.
Markus Flasch, CEO of BMW Motorrad, and Michael Sommer, head of BMW Motorrad Germany, introduced the bike to the pope. “What initially sounded extra like a loopy thought has developed into a fantastic charity marketing campaign,” stated Flasch. “I’m pleased that we at BMW Motorrad can help help tasks for kids in Madagascar with our R 18 Transcontinental. I’d additionally prefer to thank Pope Leo XIV for taking the time to help this challenge.”
On Aug. 31, the soon-to-be-blessed bike started a “Peace Journey” from BMW Motorrad Witzel, passing by way of Schaafheim, Altötting, and Verona on its method to Rome. It was accompanied by church providers alongside the best way, in addition to representatives of Jesus-Biker, BMW Motorrad, and BMW Witzel, lots of whom had been additionally using BMW R 18s.
For these wishing to see the bike earlier than it’s auctioned off, it will likely be on show at BMW Welt in Munich from Sept. 15 to Oct. 7. Discover extra particulars on the BMW Motorbike web site.
The BMW R 18 Transcontinental was launched in 2022 as a completely geared up touring variant of the R 18 cruiser. With a handlebar-mounted batwing fairing, an infotainment system, exhausting saddlebags, and a high trunk with a wrap-around passenger backrest, amongst different touring options, the Transcontinental competes with the likes of Harley-Davidson’s touring fashions. Discover extra info and using impressions in our BMW R 18 Transcontinental Street Check Evaluation.
