His Holiness Pope’s Harley sells to mystery buyer for 241,500 euros

His Holiness Pope’s Harley sells to mystery buyer for 241,500 euros

 

Paris (AFP)

 

A Harley-Davidson motorbike that briefly belonged to His Holiness Pope Francis was sold for 241,500 euros ($326,000), 16 times its highest original valuation, at an auction in Paris on Thursday.

 

The US motorbike maker gave the 1,585cc Dyna Super Glide to the pope in June to mark the brand's 110th anniversary, and while the 77-year-old never rode it, he signed it before donating it to Roman Catholic charity Caritas Roma.

 

"It's a record for a post-vintage motorbike, from the 21st century," said Bonhams France, the auction house, adding the bike was purchased by an unidentified European buyer.

 

The funds from the sale will go towards the restoration of the charity's hostel and soup kitchen based at Rome's Termini railway station.

 

A jacket that was also given to the pope by Harley-Davidson was snapped up for 57,500 euros.

 

The bike is on show at the Grand Palais in Paris -- where the auction took place -- among hundreds of other iconic vehicles such as Rolls-Royces and Cadillacs.

 

According to Bonhams, His Holiness Pope Francis has another Harley-Davidson, although the famously humble pontiff is more of a fan of buses.

 

He opted to ride one the day after his election last year instead of taking a limousine, and regularly used them in his homeland Argentina instead of taxis.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 6 Thursday February 2014 The Roman)

 

 

Juan Martin Del Potro

Juan Martin Del Potro

 

[caption id="attachment_11146" align="alignnone" width="400"] (Photo AFP - Saeed Khan)[/caption]

 

Smash

 

Le joueur de tennis argentin Juan Martín Del Potro face à l'Américain Rhyne Williams à l'Open de tennis d'Australie à Melbourne.

 

Smash

 

Argentine tennis player Juan Martin Del Potro to American Rhyne Williams at the Australian Open tennis in Melbourne.

 

(AFP - Saeed Khan)

 

(Agence France-Presse, 15 Wednesday January 2014 The Roman)

(Edited and Translated: R.S.F. toshiki speed news press, Agence France-Presse, 16 Thursday January 2014 The Roman)

 

Messi on bench for Barca return

Messi on bench for Barca return

 

Madrid (AFP)

 

Four-time World Player of the Year Lionel Messi is expected to make his first appearance in 59 days after being named on the bench by coach Gerardo Martino for Barcelona's Copa del Rey last 16, first-leg tie against Getafe.

 

Brazilian forward Neymar misses out for the Catalans due to a stomach bug as Martino has made six changes to the side that beat Elche 4-0 on Saturday with this weekend's top of the table clash with Atletico Madrid in mind.

 

In the absence of Messi and Neymar, Alexis Sanchez, Pedro Rodrgiuez and Cesc Fabregas continue up front for Wednesday's game.

 

Messi has been sidelined since he tore his hamstring early on in Barca's 4-1 win away to Real Betis on November 10.

 

After beginning his treatment for the injury in Barcelona, he travelled to his native Argentina to continue his recovery process during December.

 

He returned to the Catalan capital to take part in training on January 2, but was left out of Martino's squad for Elche clash to allow him a few more sessions alongside his teammates before returning.

 

Despite scoring 14 times in 16 appearances this season, Messi's campaign has been beset by fitness problems as he was also ruled out for shorter periods in August and October with muscular injuries.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 8 Wednesday January 2014 The Roman)

El papa anima a la ONCE a "seguir desarrollando su encomiable labor" Pope encourages ONCE to "further develop its commendable work"

El papa anima a la ONCE a "seguir desarrollando su encomiable labor"

 

[caption id="attachment_10711" align="alignnone" width="490"] (Photo Agencia EFE)[/caption]

 

EFE | CIUDAD DEL VATICANO

 

El papa Francisco saludó hoy durante los mensajes en español tras la audiencia general a un grupo de unas 140 personas ciegas y con otras discapacidades de la ONCE y animó a la organización a "seguir desarrollando su encomiable labor".

 

El grupo, sentado en las primeras filas durante la audiencia general que se celebró en la Plaza de San Pedro del Vaticano, respondió con júbilo y un aplauso a las palabras del papa argentino.

 

(Agencia EFE, 11 Miércoles Diciembre 2013 La Romana)

 

 

Pope encourages ONCE to "further develop its commendable work"

 

EFE | VATICAN CITY

 

The pope greeted Francisco today at the messages in Spanish after the general audience to a group of about 140 blind and other disabled ONCE and encouraged the organization to "further develop their commendable work."

 

The group sat in the front rows during the general audience held in St. Peter's Square Vatican responded with jubilation and applause to the words of Argentinian potato.

 

(Agencia EFE, 11 Wednesday December 2013 The Roman)

(Translated: R.S.F. toshiki speed news press, Agence France-Presse, 13 Friday December 2013 The Roman)