Pope Leo XIV has sent a message of celebration to mark the 70th anniversary of the charitable bakery Sungsimdang based in Daejeon. (Yonhap News)

By Aisylu Akhmetzianova

Pope Leo XIV has sent a message of celebration marking the 70th anniversary of a charitable bakery in Daejeon.

Domestic news outlets including Yonhap News on Jan. 1 said Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-sik Prefect of the Dicastery for the Clergy at the Vatican, during his visit to Korea last month conveyed the message signed by the pope to the bakery Sungsimdang.

"With gratitude to the Lord, I extend my blessings to Sungsimdang, a historic bakery in Daejeon, to mark its 70th anniversary," the message said.

"I deeply commend the major contributions to society and the economy from Sungsimdang over the years to promote fraternity and solidarity in the civil and ecclesial communities, especially the poorest, based on the model of 'an economy for all.'"

Founded in 1956 as an open-air store for steamed buns in front of Daejeon Station, the bakery grew into one of the country's leaders in its industry. Donating food to the needy for decades, it served bread to Pope Francis when he visited Korea in 2014.

aisylu@korea.kr