A process is disclosed for the selective catalytic hydrogenation of carbonyl groups in aromatic aldehydes of the formula: ##STR1## in which X is carboxyl, methyl or a halogen, to give the corresponding alcohols and methyl compounds. The catalytic hydrogenation is performed with the addition of a solvent optionally in the presence of organic acids on a shaped support catalyst containing a platinum group metal on a support made from titanium oxide in the presence of hydrogen at hydrogen partial pressures of 5 to 50 bar and temperatures of 100.degree. to 300.degree. C.