In the world

Jesus is praying here for his disciples, whom he will soon have to leave behind. He doesn't ask the Father to take them out of the world. So no safe retreat. They are to stay where people are.

These verses gave rise to a well-known phrase: in the world, but not of the world. Christians live in the middle of society. They work, shop, vote and love their neighbours. But what anchors them lies somewhere else. That's why Jesus doesn't pray for escape, but for protection from evil.