But while there is joy that comes from announcing the Gospel, disciples at times have had to "pay a dear price" for their hope, Francis said, and pointed to the many Christians who "have not abandoned their people" in times of persecution.
"They have stayed there, where tomorrow isn't certain, where they couldn't have plans of any sort, (but) they stayed hoping in God."
Referring, as he often does, to the many modern martyrs who give their lives for Christ, the Pope said their fidelity proves that "injustice does not have the final word in life."
"In Christ Risen we can continue to hope," he said, noting that while men and women who have a certain reason to live are able to resist more than others in times of difficulty, "those who have Christ at their side truly no longer fear anything."
"Because of this Christians are never easy and accommodating men," he said, stressing that "their meekness must not be confused with a sense of insecurity or of submissiveness."
And this, he said, "is why the Christian is a missionary of hope. Not by their merit, but thanks to Jesus, the grain of wheat who, fallen to the earth, died and brought much fruit."
At the end of the audience, just before leading pilgrims in the Our Father, Pope Francis announced that a special meeting will be held March 19-24 with youth from all over the world in order to prepare for the 2018 Synod of Bishops on "Young People, Faith and the Discernment of Vocation."
Youth who will attend the conference will include non-Catholics, whether they come from other Christian traditions, or other faiths entirely. Conclusions of the discussion will be given to synod participants to take into consideration during the discussion.
In preparing for the synod, "the Church wants to listen to the voices, feelings, faith and even doubts and critiques of the youth," Pope Francis said, which is why the March meeting will gather such a vast panorama of participants, and why, ultimately, their reflections will be taken into consideration during the synod itself.
Elise Harris was senior Rome correspondent for CNA from 2012 to 2018.