Who he was
Zachary came of a Greek family settled in Calabria; the Liber Pontificalis names his father as Polichronius. He was most likely a deacon of the Roman Church and was chosen pope at once, without opposition, after the burial of Gregory III. His biographer remembered him as gentle, peaceable and generous to clergy and people alike.
What he is remembered for
He went in person to the Lombard king Liutprand, at Terni and later at Pavia, and talked him into handing back captured towns and sparing Ravenna. He worked closely with St Boniface in organising the Church in Germany, and when the Franks asked him who should be king he gave the answer that let Pepin take the crown. He also ransomed slaves sold in Rome, restored the Lateran and translated St Gregory the Great's Dialogues into Greek.
He is honoured by the Church as Saint. Read his page in the dictionary of saints.
Sources
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