A native of Rome, Benediktos 3 was the son of Ioannes 222; he entered the service of the church at an early age ("ab ineunte aetate sua ecclesiae militavit"); from boyhood ("a puerili aetate") he showed familiarity with the Scriptures and the Psalms and he became a priest ("in presbyterii dignitate"), living like one truly blessed in both name and deeds; described as a friend of the poor, humble, gentle and generous ("paupertatis amator, humilis, mansuetus et omnibus compatientiam habens atque manu largissima"): Lib. Pont. 83. 1. He became bishop of Rome in succession to pope Leo II (Leo 16) and held the see for ten months, twelve days: Lib. Pont. 83. 1.

Bendiktos 3 was bishop of Rome from 26 June 684 to 8 May 685. He restored the churches of St Peter and of St Laurence at Lucina and gave gifts to the churches of St Valentine in the Via Flaminia, St Maria ad martyres and St Laurence at Lucina: Lib. Pont. 83. 2. He attempted to convince the monothelete Makarios 1 of the error of his views (sending his consiliarius, Bonifatios 2, to talk to him), but without success: Mansi XII 1035-1038 (at the Seventh Ecumenical Council the papal representative Petros 27 recalled the episode). He fell ill shortly after Easter (26 March 685) and died a few days later; he was buried in St Peter's on 8 May: Lib. Pont. 83. 5. His epitaph survives: Rossi, ICVR II, p. 129, 157, on which see Duchesne, Lib. Pont. I, p. 365, n. 8. On his deathbed he distributed thirty pounds of gold among all the clergy, the monasteries of the diaconia and the mansionarii: Lib. Pont. 83. 5.

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