welcome back, everyone. leaders of the world's 20 wealthiest nations are getting ready to meet this weekend in rome for the first time in more than two years. the two leaders, russia's vladamir putin and china's xi jinping are skipping the g20. joe biden is expected to leave for rome later today, and will meet with the pope on friday more now from cnn's nic robertson in rome. >> reporter: rome is ready. but some invitees are not. vladamir putin of russia to be a no-show. president xi of china too, and mexico's president, ditto. can't come to rome because of covid issues at home. last year's g20 in riyadh, pandemic restrictions kept everyone away. rome was supposed to be different.