Picture this: June 16, 2013. St. Peter’s Square, the spiritual heart of the Catholic Church, echoes with the thunderous rumble of Harley-Davidson engines. Thousands of leather-clad riders—some sporting papal flags or shirts reading “I am here” in Italian—stand shoulder-to-shoulder with nuns and pilgrims. At the center of it all? Pope Francis, cruising through the crowd in his popemobile, blessing bikes and their riders.
This wasn’t just another Sunday in Rome. It was Harley-Davidson’s 110th-anniversary celebration, a global rally that brought riders from Milan to Miami to the Eternal City. But what turned this event into a decade-long legend?
The Day Heaven Met Horsepower
The 2013 blessing was a sensory overload. News outlets described the “thundering” roar of V-Twin engines nearly drowning out the Latin prayers. Bikers in leather vests shared space with pro-life marchers holding signs about the sanctity of life. The juxtaposition was surreal—rebellious biker culture colliding with centuries-old tradition.
For riders like Paolo Forbicini, a Milan native whose Fat Boy Harley was blessed that day, it was a career highlight. “I felt proud to have the pontiff’s blessing on my ride,” he told reporters.
The event wasn’t just a photo op but a cultural reset. Harley-Davidson, a brand synonymous with freedom, suddenly had the Vatican’s stamp of approval.
St. Peter’s Square bikers gather around Pope Francis
The Pope Who Leaned Into the Chaos
Fresh into his papacy, Pope Francis already built a reputation for ditching stuffy protocol. Eschewing the papal sedan, he opted for an open-air popemobile, driving inches from revving bikes. During his Angelus address, he directly acknowledged the riders, calling them “numerous participants” deserving of grace.
But his most legendary move came months later. Harley had gifted him a custom Dyna Super Glide and a leather jacket. True to his humility, Francis auctioned both. The bike, signed “Francesco” on its tank, sold for €241,500 (15x its estimate!), while the jacket fetched €57,500.
The funds were used to renovate a Rome homeless shelter that serves 1,000 people daily. Monsignor Enrico Feroci of Caritas Roma called it a “precious gift of solidarity.”
This wasn’t just charity—it was the “Francis Effect” in action. A Harley, often seen as a symbol of excess, became a tool for radical good.
Why Bikers Felt Seen
Biker culture battles stereotypes. Pop culture paints riders as rebels or outlaws. But that day in Rome, Pope Francis offered something rare: validation. The blessing was a watershed moment for ministries like the Christian Motorcycle Association (CMA) or Bikers for Christ. “It showed faith and riding aren’t mutually exclusive,” one CMA member told me.
Harley leaned into this, marketing the 110th anniversary as an “epic adventure.” Riders like Simon Kort from the Netherlands fulfilled lifelong dreams, parading past the Colosseum. The event wasn’t just a rally—it was a pilgrimage.
Pope Francis blessing motorcyclists
The Ripple Effect: From Rome to Miami
Did the 2013 blessing birth U.S. traditions? Not exactly. But it lit a spark. Take the Archbishop’s Motorcycle Ride in Miami, led by Harley-riding Archbishop Thomas Wenski. Each year, riders gather for Mass, bike blessings, and charity fundraisers. “We serve the Church and the open road,” Wenski said in 2022.
Groups like Knights on Bikes (affiliated with the Knights of Columbus) also blend faith and riding, visiting nursing homes, or raising funds for shelters. While no U.S. events explicitly honor the 2013 blessing, its spirit lives on.
Why This Moment Still Matters
A pope known for simplicity embraced a subculture of chrome and leather. A corporate milestone became a $327,000 act of charity. A global brand synonymous with rebellion found common ground with the ancient faith.
