Biker culture at Vatican as Harleys blessed
Thundering Harley engines nearly drowned out the Latin recitation of the “Our Father” prayer that accompanied Francis as he greeted the crowd before Mass. Standing in his open-top jeep, Francis drove up the main boulevard to St Peter’s Square, blessing the thousands of people in what was a giant Harley parking lot. Once the service got under way, bikers in their trademark leather Harley vests sat in the square alongside nuns and tens of thousands of faithful Catholics taking part in an unrelated, two-day pro-life rally.
Francis addressed them both afterwards, giving a blessing to the “numerous participants” of the Harley gathering. Some estimates say a half-million Harley owners from around the world descended on Rome for the four-day anniversary of the American manufacturer. The main events were Saturday’s parade past the Colosseum and other historic landmarks and Sunday’s Vatican blessing.
