The motorcycle group "Jesus Biker" had brought the motorcycle from southern Hesse to Rome as part of their "Peace-Ride" motorcycle tour in September and personally handed over Pope Leo XIV. He even took a seat shortly afterwards.
The proceeds will now benefit children in Madagascar.
Helmut Volz from the Lower Franconian town of Leidersbach, who had accompanied the "Peace-Ride" as a medic of the Red Cross, was awarded the contract at the auction.
"It was a matter close to my heart that this motorcycle achieves the highest possible price," he told the Catholic News Agency (KNA).
Even if he does not know – frankly – what he is up to with the machine. After all, the valuable collector's item is not suitable for walking.
The Pontifical Mission Societies in Austria described the auction as a success.
"I thank the 'Jesus Bikers' for this unique idea and their commitment to thousands of children in Madagascar. With the proceeds, we can free children from slavery and give them a future through education," Missio Director Father Karl Wallner said, according to the press release.
Together with a local non-governmental organization, the auction proceeds are intended to establish a school for rescued mine children.
School bench instead of Mica-Mine
According to Misso Austria, around 20,000 people in the south of Madagascar work in about 176 Mica mines in conditions reminiscent of slavery.
For one kilogram of the mineral used for the production of cosmetics, paints or electrical goods, families will have only five cents.
According to the organization, the sale price in China is 12 euros per kilogram.
Madagascar is the world's largest exporter of Mica.
In 2019, the "Jesus Biker" had auctioned off a papal motorcycle – at that time, however, the proceeds fell short of expectations, also because there were only a few interested parties.