BMW R 18 Transcontinental for Pope Leo XIV to serve a higher purpose

Remember back in 2017, Lamborghini gifted a custom-built Lamborghini Huracan to Pope  Francis, which he promptly auctioned off and used the proceeds for the humanitarian cause across the globe. The Lamborghini in question fetched nearly $950,000 at RM Sotheby’s Auction.

In a very similar fashion, BMW Motorrad decided to contribute its part in making the world a better place, commissioned a custom BMW R18 Transcontinental, which will go under the auction by October. Whatever proceeds come from the sale will go to fund aid projects for children in need in Madagascar.

The BMW  R18 project came into inception when the founder of a religiously inclined biker club, “JESUS BIKER,” and a BMW Motorrad dealer, Witzel, came up with a unique tour called “Peace Ride,” which mainly included BMW R18 Transcontinentals and other BMW Motorrad products. And the special R 18 Transcontinental for Pope was created to head the “peace  Ride” rally, joined by representatives from “JESUS RIDES” and BMW Motorrad.

The Donor R 18 Transcontinental for the project was provided by BMW Motorrad Deutschland to Mottorad Witzel. Witzel and Thomas Draxler, founder of JESUS-BIKER, went ahead and painted the bike in mother-of-pearl white and added the coat of arms of the Vatican on the bodywork.

The “Peace Ride” caravan led by Pope’s pearl white BMW R18 Transcontinental began its journey on 31st August from the BMW Motorrad Witzel dealer in Sennfeld to Rome; multiple church services joined along the route from different cities till the caravan reached Vatican City. where the BMW R18 met Pope Leo XIV, who blessed and signed an autograph on the motorcycle’s custom-painted bodywork, in the presence of Markus Flasch, the CEO of BMW Motorrad, and Michael Sommer, head of BMW Motorrad Germany, who personally presented the motorcycle to the Pope for blessing.

Before going off to the auction block, Pope’s BMW R18 Transcontinental will be on display at BMW Welt in Munich from 15 September to 7 October 2025 for the general public to view.

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