from Twowheelsblog
Among the highlights of the celebrations that took place last weekend in Rome for the 110th Anniversary of Harley-Davidson there was the blessing that Pope Francis provided to H-D owners and bikes on Sunday morning, and the Milwaukeee-based manufacturer has seen fit to thank the ‘host’ with four special Road King Police models that were specially prepared to serve and protect the Vatican. In accordance with the new line dictated by the Argentinian Pope - who famously advocates a ‘poorchurch for poor people’, free from the earthly goods of nature - two of these bikes will be auctioned with the proceeds going towards charity, while the other two will remain in the fleet of the Vatican Gendarmerie.
On Saturday, the bikes were then handed over to the officers of the Vatica Police by Karen and Bill Davidson (pictured above), son and daughter of the legendary Willie G. Davidson and key figure within the H-D management. The models are actually quite similar to those provided to the US Police Forces, and will be used to escort visiting foreign diplomats and for certain ceremonies.
The bikes were not the only gift that the house from Wisconsin had for the Pope: on Sunday, after the mass, the Harley-Davidson delegation gave the Pope a painting entitled “Chance Encounter” created by artist of David Uhl, which symbolizes the meeting in St. Peter’s Square between two different worlds as different as H-D and the Vatican. The image will also be made available to the public in the form of printed postcards in a limited run of 50,000 units.
