PHILADELPHIA, Sept 20 ― To mark Pope Francis imminent visit to the United States, a priest undertook a labour of blood, sweat and tears ― by building a Lego model of the Vatican.

This is no mean feat, with Philadelphia’s Father Bob Simon reportedly spending 10 months, and a half-million Lego bricks to construct the mini St Peter’s Basilica.  

Simon’s model, which features a Lego pope on a balcony overlooking the crowd in St Peter’s Square (constructed of 44,000 Lego pieces) complete with a host of other Lego characters, measures 14 feet by 6 feet and weigh close to 100 pounds.   

“It was daunting,” Simon was quoted as saying by the Independent. “It was an exercise in patience, and I was thrilled with the way everything came out.”

Unfortunately, Pope Francis may not get to see the model ― his schedule does not include a visit to the museum when he spends two days in Philadelphia next week. Bummer.