A method of making a xylene isomerization catalyst comprising the steps of: (i) contacting a ZSM-5 zeolite starting material having a silica to alumina molar ratio of 20 to 50 and having a mesopore surface area in the range of 50 m 2 /gram to 200 m 2 /gram in a reactor with a base at a temperature of 20°C to 100°C for a caustic treatment period of 1 minute to 10 hours to provide an intermediate zeolite material, wherein the ZSM-5 zeolite is present in the base in an amount of 1 weight % to 20 weight %, wherein the base is selected from the group consisting essentially of: NaOH, LiOH, KOH, RbOH, CsOH, Mg 2, Ca 2, NH 4 OH, Li 2 O, Na 2 O, K 2 O, Rb 2 O, Cs 2 O, MgO, and CaO; or Alkali metal alkoxides having the formula R'OM wherein R' is selected from the group consisting essentially of methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, pentyl, and phenyl, and M is selected from the group consisting essentially of Li, Na, and K; or Alkyl ammomium hydroxides having the formula R" NH 3 OH, R" 2 NH 2 OH, R" 3 NHOH, R" 4 NOH, wherein R" is selected from the group consisting essentially of methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, and butyl; or any combination thereof; and wherein the base is added to the reactor incrementally or continuously during the caustic treatment period; (ii) recovering the intermediate ZSM-5 zeolite material of step (i); (iii) contacting the intermediate zeolite material with an acid at a temperature of 20°C to 100°C for an acid treatment period of 1 minute to 10 hours to provide an acid treated ZSM-5 zeolite product; (iv) recovering the acid treated ZSM-5 zeolite material; and (v) calcining the acid treated ZSM-5 zeolite material at a temperature in the range of 300°C to 700°C for a period of time in the range of 0.2 hours to 6 hours to provide a desilicated ZSM-5 zeolite product having a silica to alumina molar ratio of 20 to 150 and having a mesopore surface area in the range of 100 m 2 /gram to 400 m 2 /gram. (i) contacting a ZSM-5 zeolite starting material having a silica to alumina molar ratio of 20 to 50 and having a mesopore surface area in the range of 50 m 2 /gram to 200 m 2 /gram in a reactor with a base at a temperature of 20°C to 100°C for a caustic treatment period of 1 minute to 10 hours to provide an intermediate zeolite material, wherein the ZSM-5 zeolite is present in the base in an amount of 1 weight % to 20 weight %, wherein the base is selected from the group consisting essentially of: NaOH, LiOH, KOH, RbOH, CsOH, Mg 2, Ca 2, NH 4 OH, Li 2 O, Na 2 O, K 2 O, Rb 2 O, Cs 2 O, MgO, and CaO; or Alkali metal alkoxides having the formula R'OM wherein R' is selected from the group consisting essentially of methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, pentyl, and phenyl, and M is selected from the group consisting essentially of Li, Na, and K; or Alkyl ammomium hydroxides having the formula R" NH 3 OH, R" 2 NH 2 OH, R" 3 NHOH, R" 4 NOH, wherein R" is selected from the group consisting essentially of methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, and butyl; or any combination thereof; and wherein the base is added to the reactor incrementally or continuously during the caustic treatment period; (ii) recovering the intermediate ZSM-5 zeolite material of step (i); (iii) contacting the intermediate zeolite material with an acid at a temperature of 20°C to 100°C for an acid treatment period of 1 minute to 10 hours to provide an acid treated ZSM-5 zeolite product; (iv) recovering the acid treated ZSM-5 zeolite material; and (v) calcining the acid treated ZSM-5 zeolite material at a temperature in the range of 300°C to 700°C for a period of time in the range of 0.2 hours to 6 hours to provide a desilicated ZSM-5 zeolite product having a silica to alumina molar ratio of 20 to 150 and having a mesopore surface area in the range of 100 m 2 /gram to 400 m 2 /gram.