A 56-year-old Canadian man who left home after his business went bankrupt completed an 11-year walk around the world on Sunday, and told a crowd of well-wishers his new goal was to promote peace.

Jean Beliveau - who arrived to a hero's welcome in Montreal from loved ones, lawmakers and supporters -- said his "real mission" was to lobby Canada and other governments to create "ministries of peace."

"We are all different, and that is what is beautiful about life on Earth - our different colors, different beliefs, different political systems," he said.

Beliveau left Montreal on the day of his 45th birthday - August 18, 2000 - after his small sign business went bankrupt. He decided to run around the world to try to escape the pain.

The Canadian ran all the way to Atlanta, Georgia before slowing his stride for what would become the longest uninterrupted walk around the world: 75,000 kilometers (46,600 miles) across 64 countries.

Over 11 years, he traveled across deserts and mountains. He fell in love for nine days in Mexico, wore a turban and a long beard in Sudan, ate snake in China, and was escorted by armed soldiers in the Philippines.

Upon his return on Sunday, Beliveau reunited with his mother, whom she had not seen throughout his 11 years on the road. She welcomed him in a tight embrace.

More than 100 supporters walked the final kilometers with Beliveau through the streets of Montreal.

Beliveau said a so-called "ministry of peace" could lead to the creation of a team that would lecture students on peace issues, as well as a Canadian peace corps.

The idea is backed by the Society to Promote Departments of Peace.

"We may never have peace but if we take one step forward, and then another, I think we can create a better world together," Beliveau said.

source: Canadian man completes 11-year round-the-world walk