The Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee echoed the sentiment of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in imploring the faithful to pray for those affected by the mass shooting at a Texas elementary school.

"Please join us in praying for the innocent lives lost in the terrible tragedy in Uvalde, Texas, and for those who have lost a loved one,” the diocese said on Facebook. 

On Tuesday, Salvador Ramos, 18, shot and killed 19 fourth-grade students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. He wounded 17 other people, AP News reported. 

The town is majority-Hispanic, with a population of 16,000, west of San Antonio. Ramos is said to have entered and barricaded himself inside a fourth-grade classroom. He then opened fire on the people inside. Law enforcement officers finally broke into the classroom and killed him, AP said.

The rampage dismayed many, including Catholic leaders,

“There have been too many school shootings, too much killing of the innocent," the USCCB said in a 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.” 

Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) commented on the tragedy.

“Texans across the state are grieving for the victims of this senseless crime and for the community of Uvalde,” Abbott said in a press release. "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 thanked the first responders for their work in securing the school after the shooting spree 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.”