Benedict II, as opposed to many other popes of the 7th century, was neither a monk nor a foreigner, but he advanced through the ranks of the Roman clergy. It is interesting how Benedict distributed his gifts among the "omnis clerus", that is the entire secular clergy, and among the "monasteria diaconiae", i.e. only those monasteries who performed some charitable deeds. The exact meaning of the "mansionarii", rendered here as "church wardens", is unclear.
The positive description of Benedict's activities refers also to his time as a presbyter, presenting us with a model of both a presbyter and a bishop.