In honor of Pope Francis‘ upcoming visit to Philadelphia, he’s showing off his breathtaking tribute to the Pontiff via the fantastic gift of Legos.
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“I think there’s about half a million pieces in it”, he said.
About 500,000 Lego pieces were used to complete the model which is now on display at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. Considering that many adult builders have created some interesting Lego brick replicas of historic and architecture structures, it should be no surprise that someone has taken the time to build a Lego replica of the Vatican.
Simon’s masterpiece measures 14 feet by 6 feet and weighs about 100 pounds. “It was an exercise in patience, and I was thrilled with the way everything came out”. The incredible creation is now on display at The Franklin Institute and people who have been to the Vatican have suggested the structure looks like what visitors will see when traveling overseas .
USA Today states that Pastor Bob Simon has always wanted to build a Lego Vatican model since the seventh grade, so this is an accumulation of a childhood dream. The hardest part was creating the round basilica dome from square bricks, he said.
“I’m also not really great at math, so I was daunted by that as well”, he said.
The Lego Vatican isn’t just a replica, but a reflection of the special place. He finished in time to bring it to BrickFair, a Lego convention held over the summer near Washington, D.C., where it received many accolades.
The model has been featured at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.
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The Rev. Bob Simon spent about 10 months building it with a half-million plastic bricks. He’s constructed the entire Vatican, St. Peter’s Square and even Lego parishioners. Pope Francis, 78, will celebrate Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul on September 26 as well as deliver an Independence Mall address later in the day.
