Molly McGovern, the daughter of U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, died unexpectedly while on a trip in Italy, the Massachusetts congressman's office said Thursday. She was 23 years old. The high-ranking Democrat from Worcester said his daughter was battling a rare form of cancer and just finished a semester studying abroad in Australia.

Former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she and her family were close with U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern's daughter, who died this week. She and others publicly expressed condolences.