Priest creates elaborate LEGO Vatican

Photo courtesy The Franklin Institute.

A Pennsylvania priest who loves LEGOs built an elaborate replica of the Vatican in honor of the pope's visit to Philadelphia. 

It's made with nearly 500,000 LEGO bricks, and even includes a Pope Francis figurine. 

It took Father Bob Simon of Saint of Siena Church in Moscow, Pennsylvania 10 months to build the model. 

Father Simon says he's always loved playing with LEGOs. "As long as I can remember, I loved LEGOs and I also wanted to be a priest. So it was a natural thing to build churches."

The LEGO Vatican will be on display at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia until Feb. 15.