On Sunday, Pope Francis blessed thousands of Harley-Davidson riders and their bikes as the motorcyclists celebrated the American manufacturer’s 110th anniversary.
Thousands of motorcyclists met in Rome, hoping to be greeted by the pope, as the Catholic religious head drove by to deliver Mass. Many tourists were equally thrilled to see the variety of motorcycles.
“I have been driving a motorbike since my 18th, and since I was young I have had a passion for Harley-Davidson,” said motorcycle rider Frank Jonkers. “The machine is power, it’s the sound and the machine – that’s the passion for Harley-Davidson.”
According to the Associated Press, the Vatican police was given two white classic Harley-Davidson motorcycles to use.
As he dove by through an open-top Jeep, Pope Francis blessed the crowd. After being greeted, the riders attended Mass with the nuns and other Catholic followers. The pope addressed them afterwards, again blessing the participants of the celebration.
While leather Harley-Davidson jackets filled the crowd, Pope Francis's Mass message commemorated an important 1995 letter about pro-life.
This year's Harley-Davidson anniversary was a four-day event, including a Saturday parade stretching around Rome. Fox Now reports 35,000 gathered on Sunday.
Photo courtesy by TwitPic