Originating several centuries ago, the pontifical secret over the course of time has become progressively less rigorous. Even though found today in only a few normative texts, the pontifical secret presents a challenge to the transparency needs of our time, especially in light of events which, were it maintained, could risk that the «secret» be read as a concealment or cover-up, an obstacle to the pursuit of truth. How can canonical norms today balance confidentiality that protects good reputations with understandable desires for shared knowledge and care for the truth?