A catalyst composition comprising an inorganic support material, a palladium component, a silver component, and a promoter component having the formula XYF_n, wherein X is an alkaline metal, Y is an element selected from the group consisting of antimony, phosphorus, boron, aluminum, gallium, indium, thallium, and arsenic, and n is an integer which makes YF_n a monovalent anion. The above-described catalyst is employed as a catalyst in the selective hydrogenation of acetylene. The above-described catalyst is made by incorporating a palladium component, a silver component, and a promoter component into an inorganic support material.