How did the Edict of Nantes restore Catholicism in France?

The Edict of Nantes did not restore Catholicism in the sense of establishing it as the sole religion; rather, it functioned as a decree of religious toleration that sought to stabilize the kingdom by balancing the rights of the Protestant minority with the status of the Catholic Church.

The Edict restored Catholicism in all areas where its practice had been interrupted during the Wars of Religion. Furthermore, it made any future extension of Protestant worship legally impossible, effectively limiting the growth of the Huguenot faith.1

While the Edict granted Huguenots significant civil rights and freedom of conscience, these measures were intended to end the violent internal conflicts that had threatened the unity of the state. By providing a legal framework for coexistence, Henry IV aimed to secure the peace necessary to restore royal authority and strengthen the monarchy. The restoration of Catholic practice was a key component of this effort to reestablish order, even as the king himself had converted to Roman Catholicism to solidify his own legitimacy.123