text: There is a distinction between doctrines and dogmas.  As far as I know, a dogma that apostolic succession is contingent on masculinity has *never" been infallibly proclaimed.  All dogmas explicitly and unambiguously refer to the future (in *future tense*) when defining something as *revealed truth.*  Check them out.  The power of the keys is not a license for the pope to do whatever he wants; but neither is it a license for the pope to refuse to do whatever he doesn't want to do.  The answer to your last question is YES: there are no limits to the power of the keys (Matthew 16:19).  For more context, see this:
  
  http://pelicanweb.org/CCC.TOB.html#CHRONOLOGY
  
  Let me know if you find anything that is historically inaccurate or dogmatically erroneous.  My understanding is that, pending a dogmatic definition, the male-only priesthood is NOT a matter of faith under the New Law.  The Church is "one, holy, catholic, and apostolic," but not necessarily patriarchal.  This issue remains open.