Bishop Oscar Florencio of the Military Ordinariate of the Philippines has asked for prayers for those who died in the military plane crash in Sulu, Sunday, July 4.
In a circular letter, the prelate also asked all military chaplains to offer Masses for the victims.
"I would like to exhort all MOP Chaplains/Priests to include in your Holy Mass Intentions and Private Prayers for the comfort of the bereaved and worrying families, the eternal repose of the souls," said Florencio.
He said prayers should also be offered for the fast recovery of those who survived the incident.
On Tuesday, Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) President Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles also expressed sadness over the incident.
"It is with great sadness that we, your bishops, received the news of the crash of a C-130 aircraft in Jolo, Sulu," he said.
"As your pastors, we share the pain of loss that this recent news has brought us. We condole with the families and friends of the several soldiers and civilians who were killed by the crash," added Valles.
"To our merciful Lord we commend the souls of our departed soldiers, and we invoke His healing hands upon those who have survived and who have sustained injuries," he said.
The deadly crash took place while the C-130 transport aircraft carrying dozens of combat troops overshot a runway at Jolo airport in Sulu province.
At least 47 of those killed were military personnel while the other three were civilians on the ground.
Forty-nine army personnel survived the crash and are being treated in hospitals.