Pope Francis's first encyclical reaffirms importance of sex between husband and wife The Pope announced last month he would complete the encyclical begun by his predecessor referring to it as "a powerful work." Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict embraced each other warmly at a ceremony held in the Vatican gardens early on Friday before the release of the encyclical to consecrate a new monument to St Michael the Archangel, patron of Vatican City. The Vatican said Pope Emeritus Benedict who lives in a converted convent in the gardens greeted cardinals and Vatican staff who had gathered for the dedication. In the encyclical, the Pope also spoke of the joy of youth and the importance of the family to support children in their faith. He also referred to the importance of World Youth Days - as he prepares for his first historic appearance at World Youth Day in Brazil at the end of July. "We have all seen during World Youth Days the joy that young people show in their faith and their desire for an ever more solid and generous life of faith," he said. Young people want to live life to the fullest. The Pope spoke of the need to remember the suffering in the world drawing on the inspiration of St Francis of Assisi and Mother Teresa of Calcutta and her work with the poor. They understood the mystery at work in them. In drawing near to the suffering, they were certainly not able to eliminate all their pain or to explain every evil," he said. Since his election in March the Pope has constantly reminded Catholics in the Vatican and elsewhere to remember the importance of service and helping the poor. "Suffering reminds us that faith's service to the common good is always one of hope," he said. 'Light of Faith' was presented to the media by Cardinal Marc Ouellet, head of the Vatican's Congregation of Bishops, Monsignor. Gerhard Ludwig Muller, head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and by Monsignor Rino Fisichella, head of the Vatican's evangelising body.