Pope Francis has to untangle soooo many 'NO's" in the Vatican that have tangled it up for centuries.  He places ideas out there AND he wants to see initiative on the part of the hierarchy and people.  There was absolutely no reason why women, chosen to be disciples by Jesus, should have been chosen.  No other rabbi in Israel had women followers, and accepted them as disciples.  But Jesus did have women disciples.  Women preached to other women [probably men, too] and were just as responsible as the men for the spread of Christianity.  
There was no ordination of the Twelve as priests or even bishops, by Christ.  Everyone in the very early Church used her/his gifts to further it.  The same desire/will is needed today.  It must be done by both men and women who are authorized by the Church to go out to the people.