Pope Francis dared the youth of Mexico to dream of a life without crime and violence as he concludes his five-day tour through the embattled country.

During the visit, Pope Francis went to several ancient churches, communities and a prison, where he sought to bring hope to the residents of one of the most violent country in the world.

Known for his tendency to break tradition in following his call to spread the word of God, Francis made it a point to talk to young Mexicans who reside in the country's gang-infested heartland.

"It is a lie to believe that the only way to live, or to be young, is to entrust oneself to drug dealers or others who do nothing but sow destruction and death," he told the youngsters in the western state of Michoacan, which has seen so much violence over the years.

"Jesus would never ask us to be hit men. He would never send us out to death," he added.

Mexico's drug war is believed to be the worst in Michoacan, where over 10,000 people have died or went missing in the past decade.

On Tuesday, the Pope further emitted a light of hope for the youth, asking them not to "lose the charm of dreaming" and to "dare to dream."

He also expressed his sympathy for those who are continually exposed to the loss of their loved ones who get caught in the troublesome drug syndicates and criminal organizations.

"It is a lie to believe that the only way to live, or to be young, is to entrust oneself to drug dealers or others who do nothing but sow destruction and death. Faced with this reality, the devil can overcome us with one of his favourite weapons: resignation," he warned.

Now, the Catholic leader is wrapping up his trip with a visit to prisoners housed in the Cereso jail in the north Mexican city of Ciudad Juarez.

Francis, the first pope born from a Latin American country, celebrated mass in an open area in the detainment facility where some 700 inmates of mixed genders are incarcerated.

There, he talked about how incarceration may not be an effective means of improving the security of a nation, saying that the presence of crime means "structural and cultural causes of insecurity" and should be further examined.

During his last day within Mexican territory, Pope Francis would celebrate mass some 300 feet near the U.S.-Mexico border, solidifying the Vatican's statement about the pontiff's wish to promote "a life of dignity and peace."