After the deadly school shooting in Texas, Edward J. Weisenburger, bishop of the Diocese of Tucson, on Wednesday emphasized the benefit of prayers and advocacy for change.

“In recent weeks, we have faced the devastating news of multiple mass shootings,” the bishop said in a recent Facebook post. “What may be mental illness combined with evil has resulted in the deaths of children as well as persons targeted by race.” 

He asked Catholics not to despair, but to do what they can through prayer and advocacy to improve things.

“Let us put into practice what we Catholics do best: prayer and action,” Weisenburger said. “May our words raised up to heaven be a comfort to those who are now suffering, and may our advocacy for change know renewed energy.”

His message came a day after 18-year-old Salvador Ramos shot and killed 19 fourth-grade students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. AP News reported that 17 other people were wounded in the shooting spree as well.

Uvalde is a majority-Hispanic town with a population of 16,000, approximately 80 miles west of San Antonio, the AP report said. Ramos went into a classroom, put up a barricade by the door and opened fire on the people inside. The incident ended after law enforcement officers were able to break through the barricade and kill the gunman.

This was the latest of several high-profile shootings, including an attack in Buffalo, New York.

Catholic leaders called for peaceful solutions.

“There have been too many school shootings, too much killing of the innocent," the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) said in a Tuesday release. "Our Catholic faith calls us to pray for those who have died and to bind the wounds of others, and we join our prayers along with the community in Uvalde and Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller. As we do so, each of us also needs to search our souls for ways that we can do more to understand this epidemic of evil and violence and implore our elected officials to help us take action.” 

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott offered words of solace.

“Texans across the state are grieving for the victims of this senseless crime and for the community of Uvalde," the governor said in a Tuesday press release from his office. "Cecilia and I mourn this horrific loss and we urge all Texans to come together to show our unwavering support to all who are suffering.” 

He also thanked the first responders who worked to secure the school after the rampage started.

“I have instructed the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Rangers to work with local law enforcement to fully investigate this crime,” Abbott said. “The Texas Division of Emergency Management is charged with providing local officials all resources necessary to respond to this tragedy as the State of Texas works to ensure the community has what it needs to heal.”