Bono added another high honor to his resume last week when he was awarded France’s highest cultural honor, the Order of Arts and Letters, by Culture Minister Aurelie Filippetti.

"Beyond notes and beyond words, you committed yourself and dedicated your fame and career to wage some of the greatest wars of our time. Not for charity's sake but in the name of justice," Filippetti said.

Bono maintains a holiday home in the south of France, and he was joined by his wife Ali when he received his new culture medal.

“It is unspeakably special to receive an award from France for being an artist,” he said, also paying tribute to his U2 bandmates.

"This is a huge honor for me, but really it belongs to the band. I've got the biggest mouth and the loudest voice, but the music we make comes from each other,” he added.