

During the summer, when water was particularly scarce and badly needed for irrigation, Greco sold water at exorbitant prices. However, the city of Palermo issued regular contracts to buy water from Greco and other Mafia bosses for a third of the water supply. According to the law, landowners were only allowed to have wells for their own private use and all excess water belonged to the public. He was financing the digging of his wells with government money. Greco, along with other Mafia families around Palermo, controlled a large portion of the water supply. The estate was also used as a refuge for mafiosi on the run, and to set up a heroin laboratory. Many of those notables were invited by "The Pope" and "The Senator" to wine and dine and take part in hunting parties at his estate La Favarella. He was the kingmaker of Christian Democrat politicians such as Giovanni Gioia, Vito Ciancimino and Giuseppe Insalaco. Salvatore Greco's nickname was "The Senator" for his political connections. He and his brother Salvatore "The Senator" Greco operated low profile and were able to enter into relationships with businessmen, politicians, magistrates and law enforcement officials through their membership of Masonic lodges. Following the end of the end of the First Mafia War and the Ciaculli massacre, Salvatore "Ciaschiteddu" Greco and his allies had to go into hiding, and this allowed the Grecos from Croceverde Giardini, led by Michele Greco, to become much more important within Cosa Nostra. He was a cousin of Salvatore "Ciaschiteddu" Greco, the first "secretary" of the first Sicilian Mafia Commission that was formed sometime in 1958. He took over the mandamento of Croceverde Giardini after his father Giuseppe Greco, "Piddu u tinenti", died. Michele Greco was part of the powerful Greco Mafia clan that ruled both in his native Ciaculli and in Croceverde Giardini, two suburbs close to Palermo.

Greco was the head of the Sicilian Mafia Commission. His nickname was Il Papa ("The Pope") due to his ability to mediate between different Mafia families. Greco died in prison while serving multiple life sentences.

Michele Greco ( Italian: – 13 February 2008) was a member of the Sicilian Mafia and a convicted murderer.
