Pope Leo XIV sent a message congratulating Sungsimdang, a bakery in Daejeon, on its 70th anniversary.
On the 1st, according to Sungsimdang and others, Cardinal You Heung-sik, Minister of the Dicastery for the Clergy, who visited Korea last month, delivered a congratulatory message bearing the pope's signature.
In the message, the pope said, "With a heart grateful to the Lord, I extend a blessing to Sungsimdang, the historic bakery in Daejeon, as it marks its 70th anniversary."
He went on, "I offer deep commendation for the significant social and economic achievements that Sungsimdang has accomplished over the years for the civic and church communities, especially the poorest, based on the model of an 'economy for all,' to promote fraternity and solidarity," adding, "I encourage you to continue this outstanding work."
Starting in 1956 as an outdoor steamed bun shop in the plaza of Daejeon Station, Sungsimdang grew into a representative bakery of Korea and has donated bread to neighbors in need for decades.
In recognition of these merits, CEO Lim Young-jin received the "Order of St. Gregory the Great" from the Holy See in 2015, and Kim Mi-jin, Lim's wife and a director, received the "Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Cross" in 2019. Sungsimdang also provided the bread that Pope Francis ate during his visit to Korea in 2014.