Ukraine's parliament, resisting a presidential decree dissolving the chamber, has urged Pope Benedict to stop Catholic clergy from interfering in politics by backing President Viktor Yushchenko in the row.
"It is to be hoped that the Apostolic Roman church will remain above political battles," media quoted members of parliament as saying in an appeal approved by a majority.
Several top religious figures, including Catholic cardinal Lubomyr Husar, issued a statement on Thursday applauding Yushchenko's decree ordering a new election as the sole means of resolving months of political deadlock in Ukraine.
Among other signatories was the head of one of Ukraine's three competing Orthodox churches - the country's majority faith.
Deputies said they were particularly angry at such comments by clergy in the run-up to Easter, a particularly big event in countries dominated by Orthodoxy, like Ukraine.
Parliament is now dominated by supporters of Moscow-friendly Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich, locked for months in a struggle for power with the pro-Western Yushchenko.
Ukraine's six million-strong eastern rite Catholic church, with most of its believers in western Ukraine, has traditionally been a strong proponent of Ukrainian nationalist sentiment against perceived encroachment from Moscow.
The church was banned in 1946 by Soviet dictator Josef Stalin and its buildings handed over to the more compliant Orthodox church until it was allowed to operate freely again in the dying days of Soviet rule.
Last month the Catholic church came under fire in Italy for what left-leaning politicians called improper interference in the country's political affairs, after the Pope said Catholic politicians should oppose gay marriage, abortion and euthanasia.