POPE ZACHARY, THE MOST ABLE NEGOTIATOR

Historians have viewed Zachary as a capable administrator and a skillful, subtle diplomat in a dangerous time. Peter Partner called him “perhaps the most subtle and able of all the Roman pontiffs. He was described as a man of gentle and conciliatory character, who was charitable to all. Probably, he was shrewd and conciliatory, for he was very successful in his actions.

This remarkable man was born of a Greek family in San Severino, southern Italy. His father’s name was Polichronius. It is assumed that he was at least a deacon by 732, since he signed decrees in the Roman Council of that year. He was obviously well known by 741. Immediately after the burial of Pope Gregory III, on November 29, 741, he was unanimously elected. Zachary was consecrated and enthroned in 6 days.

Soon after his consecration, Zachary wrote to Constantinople. But he addressed the letter not to the Patriarch, an iconoclast, but to the Church of Constantinople, itself. He sent this letter, and one to the emperor, with papal envoys. Now, Emperor Leo III had died in June of the same year and the crown went to his son, Constantine V, Copronipnus. Within months, Constantine’s brother-in-law, Artabasdus, had revolted and had established himself in Constantinople. The papal envoys arrived shortly after with the letters. They did not get close to the usurper even though he followed through on the re-establishment of image worship. Within a few years, Constantine overthrew the pretender and the papal envoys finally could give the emperor his letter. This letter asked the emperor to restore the doctrine and practice of the worship of the images. The emperor could not do enough for the envoys. He promised to return to doctrine and he gave the Church two villages on the west coast of the Italian peninsula.

Soon after the election of Zachary, it was obvious that the king of the Lombards was ready to attack Roman territory. The Duke of Spoleto did not live up to the protection alliance signed with Pope Gregory III. Zachary abandoned the alliance and decided to try using personal influence with King Liutprand. Zachary met with him and created a phenomenon. He negotiated the return of cities stolen previously, plus all the patrimonies taken in the past 30 years by the Lombards. They developed a 20-year truce between the Lombards and the Roman duchy. In exchange, Zachary built a Chapel to the Savior, built on the Church of St. Peter, in Liutprand’s name.

The very next year, Liutprand’s plans to attack Ravenna were revealed. The Exarch, still stationed in Ravenna, and the archbishop begged for help. Zachary sent envoys to Liutprand. There was no success. He then went to Ravenna and on to Pavia, where Liutprand was. He said Mass on the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul and managed to convince the king of the Lombards to stop. Territory was returned to its rightful owner and then the king died. Ratchis became king. Zachary and Ratchis became close friends. In 749, King Ratchis confirmed the treaty and then abdicated to become a monk.

Zachary was also very active in Germany. He had an active correspondence with St. Boniface, even to discussing differences of opinion.  Boniface was not a yes man. During these years, Boniface established three new bishoprics in central Germany and three metropolitans in north east France.

Zachary watched over various synods in Rome, France and England on many disciplinary questions. He answered questions from many, including Pepin the Short, in 750. Pepin used Zachary’s answer to overthrow the Merovingian figurehead and proclaim himself king of the Franks. This was the start of the phenomenal Carolingian-papal alliance.

His benevolence was well known. He constantly had alms for the poor and built houses for them. When Venetian traders brought slaves to Rome to sell them to Moslems, Pope Zachary bought them all and set them free.

His pastoral work included restoring the Lateran palace, the same one that Constantine gave to Pope Sylvester 400 years before and the Church of St. George. His literary talents went to translating the works of Pope Gregory the Great from Latin to Greek.

When Zachary died in March 752, he was buried in the basilica of St. Peter.