A process for the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of multiple condensed ring heterocyclic organosulftir compounds found in petroleum and petrochemical streams. HDS is preferably conducted in a mixed bed containing: (a) a Ni-based catalyst on an inorganic refractory support, and (b) a hydrogen sulfide sorbent material. The desulfurized stream can then be passed to further processing, including aromatics saturation and/or ring opening.