Pope's Harley, leather jacket up for auction

ROME (AP) — Is there a guarantee for a heavenly ride?

A Harley-Davidson motorcycle donated to Pope Francis last year and signed by him on its tank will be sold at auction in Paris to help raise funds for a soup kitchen and hostel for the homeless in Rome.

The Bonhams auction house noted Francis' "preference for modest modes of transport" in a statement Monday. It says it will also be auctioning off on Feb. 6 a Harley-Davidson 110th anniversary leather motorcycle jacket, size XL, signed by Francis. The auction sales will raise money for Caritas Roma, a Catholic charity based in Rome.

Francis, who says he wants to lead a "poor church," uses a Ford Focus rather than fancier Vatican cars.